Bitumen compositions comprising lignin

ABSTRACT

The current invention concerns composition comprising bitumen, one or more plasticity modifying agent(s), and lignin, as well as methods and uses related to such compositions. In particular, compositions are disclosed with improved properties, such as mixing properties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to bitumen compositions suitable for constructionwork, such as compositions suitable for roads, pavements, waterproofing,asphalt roofing, adhesive, and the like. The invention also concernsmethod of providing such compositions and various uses thereof. Inparticular, this invention concerns polymer modified bitumen (PMB)comprising lignin and one or more further component(s), such asfiller(s), aggregate(s), and active component(s).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bitumen is one of the oldest engineering materials and has been used forthousands of years. Ancient inhabitants directly used the naturalbitumen, which is usually in the earth's surface. In the early 1900s,refined bitumen was first produced by refining crude oil in the USA.Since then, the world consumption of bitumen has increased rapidly, mostof it being used in road construction. In 2011, the world consumption ofbitumen was estimated to be approximately 102 million tonnes per year,from which around 85% were used in asphalt for the construction ofvarious kinds of pavements, such as roads and other paved areas.Typically, asphalt will contain approximately 5% by mass of bitumen,with the remaining 95% usually comprising a mixture of mineralaggregates and much finer materials such as limestone filler, as well asfurther components.

A further 10% of global bitumen production is used in roofingapplications, such as asphalt roofing and fiber reinforced membranes inroofing felt, and the remaining 5% is used mainly for sealing andinsulating purposes in a variety of building materials, such as waterproofing material, pipe coatings, carpet backing, joint sealants,adhesive and paint.

Rolled asphalt, sometimes also called rolled asphalt concrete, is themost widespread use of asphalt/bitumen and is used for making asphaltfor road surfaces and accounts according to Wikipedia 19 Nov. 2015) forapproximately 85% of the asphalt consumed in the United States. Asphaltpavement mixes are typically composed of 5% asphalt/bitumen cement and95% aggregates (stone, sand, and gravel). Due to its highly viscousnature, asphalt/bitumen cement must be heated so it can be mixed withthe aggregates at the asphalt mixing facility. The temperature requiredvaries depending upon characteristics of the asphalt/bitumen and theaggregates, but warm-mix asphalt technologies allow producers to reducethe temperature required.

When maintenance is performed on asphalt pavements, such as milling toremove a worn or damaged surface, the removed material can be returnedto a facility for processing into new pavement mixtures. Theasphalt/bitumen in the removed material can be reactivated and put backto use in new pavement mixes. With some 95% of paved roads beingconstructed of or surfaced with asphalt, a substantial amount of asphaltpavement material is reclaimed each year. According to industry surveysconducted annually by the Federal Highway Administration and theNational Asphalt Pavement Association, more than 99% of the asphaltremoved each year from road surfaces during widening and resurfacingprojects is reused as part of new pavements, roadbeds, shoulders andembankments.

Asphalt paving is also widely used in airports around the world. Due tothe sturdiness and ability to be repaired quickly, it is widely used forrunways dedicated to aircraft landing and taking off.

Mastic asphalt is a type of asphalt which differs from dense gradedasphalt or asphalt concrete in that it has a higher asphalt/bitumen(binder) content, usually around 7-10% of the whole aggregate mix, asopposed to rolled asphalt, which has only around 5% addedasphalt/bitumen. This thermoplastic substance is widely used in thebuilding industry for waterproofing flat roofs and tanking underground.Mastic asphalt is heated to a temperature of e.g 210° C. and is spreadin layers to form an impervious barrier, e.g. about 20 millimetersthick.

For a general overview about the state of the art concerning bitumenand/or asphalt, including any bitumen comprising compositions, provisionof such compositions, as well as uses and applications, standards,definitions and the like, reference is e.g. made to “The Shell BitumenHandbook, 6^(th) edition (SHB#6; ISBN 978-0-7277-5837-8), which isherewith incorporated in its entirety.

The chemistry of bitumen is very complex and the properties of producedbitumen are closely related to the crude oil sources and the refineryprocesses. By selecting appropriate crude oil and/or proper refineryprocesses, desired bitumen properties can be obtained. However, thereare limits to the properties of bitumen, e.g. resistance to rutting andcracking of road surfaces, abrasion stability, suitability to weatherand climatic conditions etc.

In order to obtain bitumen with enhanced quality, an increasing numberof investigations also began to focus on bitumen modification.Bituminous materials are typically very poor in workability when used aspaving material, adhesive or waterproofing material, owing to theirextremely high adhesiveness. Therefore, bituminous materials are oftenused after their flowabilities are enhanced by a means such as heating(i.e., heat melting process), treatment to be in the form of emulsion byusing a proper emulsifying agent and water, and dissolution in asuitable solvent, for securing a desirable workability. Among suchemulsions of bituminous materials, aqueous emulsions of asphalt aregenerally called “asphalt emulsions”. Such asphalt emulsions can e.g. beclassified into fast-decomposing emulsions (emulsions for application)which are directly applied to the object surface, and slow-decomposingones (i.e., emulsions for blending) which are blended with aggregate.Although the surfactant to be used in the preparation of an asphaltemulsion is suitably selected from among anionic surfactants, cationicsurfactants, nonionic surfactants and amphoteric surfactants, the kindthereof is generally determined depending upon the process of executionthereof.

Among the above asphalt emulsions, one for blending is mixed withaggregate, filler and other components. The asphalt composition thusprepared can be used for the construction of paving of a road. Theso-called emulsion breaking is caused by the evaporation and eliminationof aqueous components in the composition, after the execution of a roadby using an asphalt composition. Thus, the asphalt is hardened tocomplete the construction of paving of a road.

As earlier described, bitumen can also be used in asphalt roofing. Thetemperature interval from when the straight (run) bitumen is fluidic towhen it is hard and crisp is rather small, which can be problematic,since it should be able to avoid damage despite harsh and changingweather. The temperature interval can be increased (especially towardshigher temperatures) by oxidation of bitumen. This can be done byblowing hot air through the bitumen at a temperature about 250° C. Toachieve a larger temperature interval towards lower temperatures, asuitably soft bitumen can be chosen to start with, or soft bitumen orbitumen oil can be added after the oxidation.

Most asphalt roofings has bitumen layers with a certain amount of addedmineral filler. The addition improves the quality of the asphalt roofingand provides e.g. an arming effect, since the softening point isincreased and/or decreasing the risk of cracking. The mineral filler canstabilize the bitumen, since it binds part of the bitumen oils, whichcould otherwise evaporate and make the bitumen harder. Furthermore, thefiller can decrease the effect from UV-light, thus the bitumendecomposes at a lower rate. The addition of filler may also decrease theflammability of bitumen, and thus increase the asphalt roofing'sresistance towards fly fire.

Polymer modified bitumen (PMB), i.e. bitumen comprising elastomers,plastomers, rubber, recycled tire rubbers, viscosity modifiers and/orreactive polymers have become increasingly popular as a replacement forpenetration grade bitumens, e.g. in the upper layers of asphaltpavements, but also in other industrial applications, due to theirimproved properties. It has been shown that the softening point of PMBscan be influenced by the type and amount of polymer added to thebitumen. While styrene-butadiene copolymers were the most widely usedbitumen modifiers in the first decade of the twenty-first century, inrecent years other modifiers have become increasingly popular in thequest to enhance bitumen performance. Examples include paraffin, amidewaxes and recycled crumb rubber.

Bitumen does not have an exact melting point; it gradually gets softerwhen exposed to heating. The softening point of bitumen can bedetermined by use of a method specified in the European standard, EN1427. In the above-mentioned method, a ring with a diameter of 20 mm isfilled with bitumen and after cooling, it is placed in a liquid bath. Ontop of the bitumen filled ring, a ball of steel with a mass of 3.50 g isplaced, and the liquid bath is gradually heated by 5° C. per minute. Theball will eventually sink through the bitumen layer in the ring, andwhen the ball reaches a given depth, the temperature is measured anddefined as the softening point of the bitumen.

The indication of the viscosity/softness at a given temperature can bedetermined by using the method described in the European standard, EN1426, wherein, in essence, it is determined how far a standard needlepenetrates into the bitumen, when a load of 100 g is applied for 5 sec.

There is a variety of specifications concerning bitumen, and bitumencomprising compositions. These comprise e.g. EN 12591, EN 13924, EN14023, IS 73:2006, ASTM D946-09, ASTM D3381-09 and M 226-80.

Further standards/and or specifications related to bitumen and/orbitumen-comprising compositions can e.g. be found in SHB#6, Chapter 5.

In Europe, bitumens and polymer modified bitumens for asphalts arecommonly manufactured to the following standards: EN 12591:2009a (BSI,2009a), covering penetration and viscosity grade bitumens; EN 13924:2006(BSI, 2006), covering hard paving grade bitumens, and EN 14023:2010(BSI, 2010a), covering polymer modified bitumens (PMBs).

Often, bitumens for industrial uses can be specified by EN 13304:2009(BSI, 2009b), covering oxidised bitumens, and EN 13305:2009 (BSI,2009c), covering hard industrial bitumens.

Cut-back and fluxed bitumens are bitumens blended with more or lessvolatile hydrocarbon components (fuels), mainly kerosene. They are e.g.characterised by a viscosity specification, EN 15322:201 3 (BSI, 201 3)providing the framework for such products.

For penetration grade bitumen, simple test methods such as thosedescribed in EN 12591 are considered appropriate. Modified bitumen, suchas PMB, may require more sophisticated test methods to describe theirperformance adequately. Although PMBs often comprise advanced technologybinders, they are still designated both by the penetration range and aminimum softening point: for example, 45/80-55 is a PMB with apenetration of 45-80 dmm and a softening point of at least 55° C. Apartfrom the test methods that apply to these traditional methods ofnomenclature, the specification framework EN 14023:2010 (BSI, 2010a)includes in its Annex B several more sophisticated tests as keyperformance parameters that need to be validated, such as (i) bendingbeam rheometer based on test method EN 14771:2012 (BSI, 2012a), (ii)dynamic shear rheometer based on test method EN 14770:2012 (BSI, 2012b),(iii) deformation energy by force ductility based on test methods EN13589:2008 (BSI, 2008) and EN 13703:2003 (BSI, 2003), (iv) tensileproperties by the tensile test EN 13587:2010 (BSI, 2010b), and (v)elastic properties by the elastic recovery test EN 13398:2010 (BSI,2010c).

Oxidised bitumens are often used for industrial applications such asroofing, flooring, mastics, pipe coatings, paints, etc.). They areusually specified and designated by reference to both the softeningpoint and penetration tests: for example, 85/40 is an oxidised gradebitumen with a softening point of 85±5° C. and a penetration of 40±5dmm. Oxidised bitumens also have to comply with solubility, loss onheating and flash point criteria, such as BSI, 2009b. The softeningpoints of oxidised grades of bitumen are considerably higher than thoseof the corresponding penetration grade bitumens, and therefore thetemperature susceptibility (i.e. the penetration index is high) is muchlower, from +2 to +8.

Hard bitumens are used for industrial applications (coal briquetting,paints, etc.). They are specified by reference to both the softeningpoint and penetration tests, but are designated by a softening pointrange only and the prefix H: for example, H80/90 is a hard grade bitumenwith a softening point between 80 and 90° C. Usually, hard bitumens alsohave to comply with solubility, loss on heating and flash pointcriteria, such as BSI, 2009c.

Bitumen quality, e.g. in the context of bitumen-comprising compositionsfor road use, may comprise rheology, cohesion, adhesion and durability(see e.g. SHB#6, Chapter 5, in particular 5.5.1-5.5.4)

It has been suggested to include lignin in bitumen-comprisingcompositions, including asphalt, see e.g. SHB#6, Table 8.1, p 152.Traditionally, lignin is obtained and isolated as a byproduct in thepaper manufacturing industry. Accordingly, in the Kraft process, woodchips are cooked in a pressurized digester in a strong alkaline liquidcontaining sulfide at 130-180° C. Under these conditions, lignin andhemicellulose degrade into fragments that are soluble in the alkalineliquid. The cellulose remains solid and is separated off for furtherpaper making processing, whereas the liquid containing the ligninfragments, denoted black liquor, is evaporated to a dry matter contentof approximately 65-80%. This concentrated black liquor comprisinglignin fragments is burned in order to recover chemicals, such as sodiumhydroxide and inorganic sulfur compounds for reuse in the Kraft processand in order to utilize the heat value of the lignin fragments containedin the black liquor.

Lignin is usually not isolated in the Kraft process, but the lignincomprising fragments are burned in a wet state. However, if the alkalineblack liquor is neutralized or acidified with acid, the lignin fragmentswill precipitate as a solid and may be isolated. A Kraft processingplant may have facilities for isolating the lignin fragments in thisway.

Conveniently, the lignin fragments are isolated by solubilizing carbondioxide, recovered elsewhere in the Kraft process, in the black liquorin order to neutralize/acidify the black liquor resulting in theprecipitation of the lignin fragments.

The lignin fragments recovered from the Kraft process have stronglyreduced molecular size, and a very high purity compared to the ligninlocated in the wood chips from which the lignin originates. It isbelieved that this reduction of molecular size is due to the fact thatthe pressurized cooking in the alkaline liquid takes place in presenceof sulfide (S2-) or bisulfide (HS−) ions, which act as ether bondcleaving reagents, thus cleaving the ether bonds of the lignin andresulting in lignin fragments having strongly reduced sizes. The highpurity is due to the fact that Kraft lignin and hemicellulose has beentotally solubilized during the cooking process, whereby it has beencompletely separated from the cellulose fraction, and afterwards onlylignin precipitates during acidification.

Another source of a lignin component may be the biomass refiningindustry. In the second generation (2G) bioethanol producing process, orthe biomass refining process for short, a lignocellulosic biomassscomprising cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin may be converted toethanol. The process commonly involves i) a hydrothermal pretreatment ofthe lignocellulosic biomass for making the cellulose accessible tocatalysts in a subsequent step; followed by ii) a hydrolysis of thecellulose for breaking down the cellulose to soluble carbohydrates andfinally iii) a fermentation of the soluble carbohydrates to ethanol. Afiber fraction and a liquid phase are left behind after the hydrolysishas been performed. The liquid phase obtained after the hydrolysis stepcomprises soluble carbohydrates useful for fermentation into ethanol.The remaining fraction obtained after the hydrolysis step comprises alignin component.

The fiber fraction consist mainly of lignin, cellulose, hemicelluloseand ash components. Compared to for example Kraft lignin, the ligninfrom the 2G bio refining industry is a more complex material, where thephysio-chemical properties is only sporadically described. The lignincomponent may be rinsed, washed, filtered and/or pressed in order toobtain lignin in a more purified state. This will however only removesome of the soluble salts and the carbohydrates with short chainlengths. The rinsed, washed, filtered, dried and/or pressed lignincomponent obtained this way is usually pressed into pellets and used asa solid fuel.

With respect to lignin and/or lignin rich fractions, including methodsof their provision, characterization as well as definitions, referenceis also made to international patent application PCT/DK2015/050242“Lignomulsion”, filed on 14 Aug. 2015, which is herewith incorporated inits entirety.

Surprisingly and unexpectedly, the inventors have discovered that theuse of a lignin-rich fraction provided from biomass, such as lignin-richfractions from e.g. 2^(nd) generation biofuel production, which has beentreated to a less severity and, hence, having a low polarity as measuredby either the lignin ion exchange capacity and/or phenolic hydroxylcontent of the lignin results (herein also called “2G lignin”), amongother desired effects and features, in significant less foaming whenmixing with bitumen and a plasticity modifying agent, when compared toe,g, pure lignin, and/or Kraft lignin. Without wanting to be bound byany theory, it is also believed that lignin having an lignin ionexchange capacity of 0.4 mol/kg or less, or 0.3 mol/kg or less and/orhaving a phenolic content of 0.2 mmol/g or less provides the presentlyfound surprising effects.

Consequently, the provision and various uses of bitumen compositionsaccording to the present invention are surprisingly and unexpectedlybelieved to result in one or more of the following advantages and/oreffects, in particular, but not exclusively, when said bitumencompositions comprise e.g. 2G lignin obtained from lignocellulosicbiomass, such as soft lignocellulosic biomass, in particular, but notexclusively, from processes comprising a pretreatment essentiallywithout addition of acid or base:

-   -   (i) increased environmental friendliness,    -   (ii) improved CO₂ footprint,    -   (iii) reduced need for chemicals, such as plasticity modifying        agents,    -   (iv) reduced foaming, thus e.g. no or reduced need for        anti-foaming agents,    -   (v) higher degree lignin or lignin-rich components in the        bitumen compositions,    -   (vi) cost reduction, as lignin is generally less expensive than        e.g. SBS or other components that can at least in part be        replaced or substituted with less expensive lignin,    -   (vii) reduction or prevention of oxidation, e.g. during mixing        of bitumen in the presence of lignin, and/or of e.g. air and/or        oxygen exposed surfaces,    -   (viii) improved UV resistance due to presence of lignin,    -   (ix) increased life-expectancy (longevity) of the bitumen        compositions, roads, pavements, asphalt roofings,        waterproofings, adhesives, or any constructions comprising        bitumen composition as disclosed herein,    -   (x) increased penetration resistance, and/or    -   (xi) increased softening point,

when e.g. compared to similar and/or comparable compositions comprisinge.g. pure lignin, organosols lignin, soda lignin, Kraft lignin such asIndulin AT, and/or Kraft-like lignin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the present invention concerns a compositioncomprising bitumen, one or more plasticity modifying agent(s), lignin,and optionally one or more further component(s); wherein said lignin isobtained by a process for treatment of a lignocellulosic biomass, saidprocess comprising:

-   -   a) subjecting lignocellulosic biomass to hydrothermal        pretreatment resulting in a hydrothermally pretreated        lignocellulosic biomass; followed by    -   b) subjecting at least part of said hydrothermally pretreated        lignocellulosic biomass obtained in step (a) to a hydrolysis        resulting in a liquid fraction comprising soluble carbohydrates,        and a fiber fraction comprising a lignin component, wherein said        hydrolysis is an acid catalyzed hydrolysis and/or enzymatic        hydrolysis; followed by    -   c) optionally subjecting at least part of the liquid fraction        obtained in step (b) to a fermentation in order to ferment at        least part of said soluble carbohydrates to a fermentation        product, such as ethanol, methane or butanol, thereby obtaining        a fermentation broth.

In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a compositioncomprising bitumen, one or more plasticity modifying agent(s), lignin,and optionally one or more further component(s), wherein said lignin hasa Lignin Ion Exchange Capacity (LIEC) of 0.4 mol/kg dry matter (DM) orless.

Suitable further components may comprise e.g. aggregates and/or fillers,and/or one or more active component(s), such as e.g. one or moredispersing agent(s), surfactant(s), hydrotropic agent(s), emulsifier(s),preserving agent(s), anti-foaming agent (s), viscosity modifier(s),reactive polymer(s) and any combination thereof.

Such compositions can be suitable for construction work, e.g. in sealingwork, road work, paving work, providing a surface layer, providing asealing layer, providing a road and providing a pavement, providing atop layer of a road, and/or in a wide range of applications relating toe.g. (i) agriculture, (ii) buildings and industrial paving, (iii)hydraulics and erosion control, (iv) industrial, (v) paving, (vi)railways, and (vii) recreation.

In a third aspect, the present invention relates to the use of acomposition according to the first, or second aspect in one or more of:sealing work, road work, paving work, providing a surface layer,providing a sealing layer, providing a road and providing a pavement,providing a top layer of a road.

Such uses may comprise applications relating to (i) agriculture, (ii)buildings and industrial paving, (iii) hydraulics and erosion control,(iv) industrial, (v) paving, (vi) railways, and (vii) recreation.

In a fourth aspect, the present invention concerns a sealing layercomprising a composition according to the first, second or third aspectof the invention.

Such a sealing layer may be comprised in e.g. a roof, dam, pool, pond,lake, roof, bridge, tunnel, road, or the like.

In a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to an asphaltcomposition comprising a composition according to the first, second orthird aspect of the invention.

Such asphalt compositions comprise mineral aggregates and/or fillers,and may comprise mastic asphalt or rolled asphalt.

In an sixth aspect, the present invention concerns a process forobtaining a bitumen composition, said process comprising:

-   -   a. subjecting said lignocellulosic biomass for hydrothermal        pretreatment resulting in a hydrothermally pretreated        lignocellulosic biomass; followed by    -   b. subjecting at least part of said hydrothermally pretreated        lignocellulosic biomass obtained in step (a) to a hydrolysis        resulting in a liquid fraction comprising soluble carbohydrates,        and a fiber fraction comprising a lignin component, wherein said        hydrolysis is an acid catalyzed hydrolysis and/or enzymatic        hydrolysis; followed by    -   c. optionally subjecting at least part of the liquid fraction        obtained in step (b) to a fermentation in order to ferment at        least part of said soluble carbohydrates to a fermentation        product, such as ethanol, methane or butanol, thereby obtaining        a fermentation broth; followed by    -   d. optionally isolating at least part of said fermentation        product from the fermentation broth obtained in step (c) e.g. by        distillation;    -   e. isolating at least part of the lignin from one or more of:        the fiber fraction obtained in step (b); the fermentation broth        obtained in step (c); or after isolation of at least a part of        the fermentation product in step (d);    -   f. converting at least part of the lignin component obtained in        step (e) to a bitumen composition by admixing said lignin        component with bitumen and a plasticity modifying agent(s).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1—Measuring relative foam development in a sample.

FIG. 2—Relative foam development vs. SBS concentration for bitumencomprising different lignin products.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the context of the present invention, any term(s) used herein is/aremeant to comprise the definitions provided in “The Shell BitumenHandbook, 6^(th) edition nr 6” (ISBN 978-0-7277-5837-8), unless definedotherwise.

In the context of the present invention, the term ‘bitumen’ is meant tocomprise a hydrocarbon product produced from the refining of crude oil.This is commonly achieved by removing the lighter fractions (such asliquid petroleum gas, petrol and diesel) from crude oil during therefining process. In North America, bitumen is commonly known as asphaltbinder or asphalt. A comprehensive definition of refined bitumen is usedin the industry document The Bitumen Industry—A Global Perspective(Eurobitume and the Asphalt Institute, 2011) and is reproduced hereverbatim: Bitumen is an engineering material and is produced to meet avariety of specifications based upon physical properties. Bitumen is theresidual product from the distillation of crude oil in petroleumrefining. The basic product is sometimes referred to as ‘straight run’bitumen and is characterised by CAS#8052-42-4 or 64741-56-6, which alsoincludes residues obtained by further separation in a deasphaltingprocess. Bitumen can be further processed by blowing air through it atelevated temperatures to alter its physical properties for commercialapplications. The general characteristics of oxidized bitumen aredescribed by CAS#64742-93-4. The vast majority of petroleum bitumensproduced conform to the characteristics of these two materials asdescribed in their corresponding CAS definitions. Bitumen is produced tograde specification either directly by refining or by blending.

The term bitumen is meant to comprise straight run bitumen, hardbitumen, oxidised bitumen, cut-back bitumen and fluxed bitumen.

The term bitumen is sometimes also used for coal-derived products suchas coal tar or coal tar pitches. These are manufactured by the hightemperature pyrolysis (>800° C.) of bituminous coals and differ fromcrude oil-derived bitumen substantially in comparison and physicalcharacteristics. However, coal tar and/or coal tar pitches may becomprised in the definition of bitumen in the context of the presentinvention.

The term bitumen can sometimes also be used for petroleum pitches(CAS#68187-58-6), which are often aromatic residues, produced by thermalcracking, coking or oxidation from selected petroleum fractions. Thecomposition of petroleum pitches differs significantly from crudeoil-derived bitumen. However, in the context of the present invention,petroleum pitches may be comprised in the definition of bitumen.

The term bitumen can sometimes also be used for natural or lake asphaltsuch as Trinidad Lake Asphalt, Gilsonite, rock asphalt and Selenice.These products are unrefined and not produced by refining of crude oil.They often contain a high proportion of mineral matter (up to 37% byweight) and light components, leading to a higher loss of mass whenheated. However, in the context of the present invention, natural orlake asphalt such as Trinidad Lake Asphalt, Gilsonite, rock asphalt andSelenice may be comprised in the definition of bitumen.

There is a variety of specifications and/or standards relating tobitumen, and bitumen-comprising compositions. These comprise e.g. EN12591, EN 13924, EN 14023, IS 73:2006, ASTM D946-09, ASTM D3381-09 and M226-80,

Further examples of bitumen standards/specifications comprise e.g. EN12591 (including e.g. 20/30, 30/45, 35/50, 40/60, 50/70, 70/100,100/150, 160/220, 250/330, 330/430) as well as AC Grade Bitumens EN12591 (including e.g. AC 20, AC 10); Hard Paving Grade Bitumens (EN13924 (including e.g. 5/15, 10/20, 15/25), Special Paving Bitumens (EN13924 (including e.g. 1/10 MG, 10/20 MG); Polymer Modified Bitumen, e.g.storage stable, (EN 14023 (including e.g. Q8 Bitumen QmB 25/55-55,45/80-50, 45/85-65, 75/130-75), Indian oil specifications (IS 73:2006(VG-10, VG-20, VG-30, VG-40), European Norm specifications ASTM D946-09(40-50, 60-70, 85-100, 120-150, 200-300), Standard Viscosity GradeBitumen (ASTM D3381-09 and M 226-80 (AC-2.5, AC-5, AC-10, AC-20, AC-30,AC-40), and RTFOT Viscosity Grade Bitumen (ASTM D3381-09 and M 226-80(AR-1000, AR-2000, AR-4000, AR-8000, AR-16000)).

In Europe, bitumens and polymer modified bitumens for asphalts arecommonly manufactured to the following standards: EN 12591:2009a (BSI,2009a), covering penetration and viscosity grade bitumens; EN 13924:2006(BSI, 2006), covering hard paving grade bitumens, and EN 14023:2010(BSI, 2010a), covering polymer modified bitumens (PMBs).

Often, Bitumens for industrial uses can be specified by EN 13304:2009(BSI, 2009b), covering oxidised bitumens, and EN 13305:2009 (BSI,2009c), covering hard industrial bitumens.

For penetration grade bitumen, simple test methods such as thosedescribed in EN 12591 are considered appropriate. Modified bitumen (PMB)may require more sophisticated test methods to describe theirperformance adequately.

In the context of the present invention the term ‘Polymer modifiedbitumen’ or ‘PMB’ is meant to comprise a composition or preparationcomprising bitumen and polymer(s), such as plasticity modifyingagent(s), and optionally lignin. Thus, PMB may also relate to bitumencomprising one or more plastomer, thermoplastic elastomer, rubber,viscosity modifier, and reactive polymer. Furthermore, PMBs may compriseone or more active components, such as dispersing agent(s),surfactant(s), hydrotropic agent(s), emulsifier(s), preserving agent(s),anti-foaming agent (s), viscosity modifier(s), reactive polymer(s) andany combination thereof.

PMBs have become increasingly popular as a replacement for penetrationgrade bitumens, commonly in the upper layers of asphalt pavements, oftendue to the better properties of PMBs. Although they represent advancedtechnology binders, they are still designated both by the penetrationrange and a minimum softening point: for example, 45/80-55 is a PMB witha penetration of 45-80 dmm and a softening point of at least 55° C.Apart from the test methods that apply to these traditional methods ofnomenclature, the specification framework EN 14023:2010 (BSI, 2010a)includes in its Annex B several more sophisticated tests as keyperformance parameters that need to be validated, such as (i) bendingbeam rheometer based on test method EN 14771:2012 (BSI, 2012a), (ii)dynamic shear rheometer based on test method EN 14770:2012 (BSI, 2012b),(iii) deformation energy by force ductility based on test methods EN13589:2008 (BSI, 2008) and EN 13703:2003 (BSI, 2003), (iv) tensileproperties by the tensile test EN 13587:2010 (BSI, 2010b), and (v)elastic properties by the elastic recovery test EN 13398:2010 (BSI,2010c).

It has been shown that the softening point of PMBs can be influenced bythe type and amount of polymer added to the bitumen. Whilestyrene-butadiene copolymers were the most widely used bitumen modifiersin the first decade of the twenty-first century, in recent years othermodifiers have become increasingly popular in the quest to enhancebitumen performance. Examples include paraffin, amide waxes and recycledcrumb rubber.

In the context of the present invention, the term ‘bitumen preparation’is meant to comprise a composition comprising bitumen and one or morefurther compound, ingredient and the like, such as oil, additive, etc.

In the context of the present invention, the term ‘bitumen emulsion’ ismeant to comprise a preparation or composition comprising droplets ofbitumen and one or more other ingredient(s), dispersed in an aqueousmedium.

In the context of the present invention, the term ‘straight run bitumen’is meant to comprise bitumen produced primarily by distillationprocesses.

In the context of the present invention, the term ‘hard bitumen’ ismeant to comprise straight run bitumen with low penetration values. Hardbitumens are often used for industrial applications (coal briquetting,paints, etc.). They are specified by reference to both the softeningpoint and penetration tests, but are designated by a softening pointrange only and the prefix H: for example, H80/90 is a hard grade bitumenwith a softening point between 80 and 90° C. Usually, hard bitumens alsohave to comply with solubility, loss on heating and flash pointcriteria, such as BSI, 2009c.

In the context of the present invention, the term ‘oxidised bitumen’ ismeant to comprise bitumen produced by passing air through hot bitumenunder controlled temperature and pressure conditions, thus producing aproduct with specific characteristics. Oxidised bitumens are often usedfor industrial applications such as roofing, flooring, mastics, pipecoatings, paints, etc.). These are usually specified and designated byreference to both the softening point and penetration tests: forexample, 85/40 is an oxidised grade bitumen with a softening point of85±5° C. and a penetration of 40±5 dmm. Oxidised bitumens also have tocomply with solubility, loss on heating and flash point criteria, suchas BSI, 2009b. The softening points of oxidised grades of bitumen areconsiderably higher than those of the corresponding penetration gradebitumens, and therefore the temperature susceptibility (i.e. thepenetration index is high) is much lower, from +2 to +8.

In the context of the present invention, the term ‘cut-back bitumenand/or ‘fluxed bitumen’ is meant to comprise bitumen blended with moreor less volatile hydrocarbon components (fuels), mainly kerosene. Suchbitumen(s) is/are e.g. characterised by a viscosity specification, EN15322:201 3 (BSI, 201 3) providing the frame¬work for such products.

Bitumen quality, e.g. in the context of bitumen-comprising compositionsfor road use, may comprise rheology, cohesion, adhesion and durability,e.g. as disclosed in SHB#6, Chapter 5, in particular chapters5.5.1-5.5.4)

In the context of the present invention, the term “asphalt” is meant tocomprise material road surfacing material comprising or consistingessentially of bitumen, mineral aggregates/fillers and may comprisefurther additives. Thus, asphalt relates to compositions comprisingbitumen and aggregate(s)/filler(s), optionally further components, saidcomposition(s) usually suitable for road surfacing products and commonlycontaining primarily bitumen and mineral aggregates. Asphalt as usedherein may also comprise alternative terms such as hot mix asphalt (HMA)and asphalt concrete (AC). Asphalt is often referred to incorrectly inthe media and in common parlance as tarmac (short for tarmacadam).Tarmacadam is a road surfacing product using coal tar as a binder andhas not been used in road construction for over 30 years.

The extremely wide range of uses for bitumen is demonstrated by thenumber of registered uses in Europe under the requirements of theRegistration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals(REACH) regulations, which require all chemical substances andassociated uses to be registered.

Bitumen can be used in a variety of areas, such as (i) agriculture, (ii)buildings and industrial paving, (iii) hydraulics and erosion control,(iv) industrial, (v) paving, (vi) railways, and (vii) recreation.Further specific examples of use of the above categories are disclosedelsewhere.

Bitumen is available in a variety of grades. Specifications are usedacross the world to define these grades to meet the needs of theapplications, climate, loading conditions and end use. These are usuallybased on a series of standard test methods that define the properties ofeach grade such as hardness, viscosity, solubility and durability.

Bitumens are also used to manufacture mixtures or preparations. In theseproducts, bitumen is often the principal component, but they can containsignificant proportions of other materials to meet end use requirements.These mixtures are chemically classified as bitumen preparations.

In the context of the present invention, the terms “aggregate(s)” or“filler(s)” can be used interchangeably, and are meant to comprise theusually the largest constituent in asphalts, typically, but notexclusively e.g. 92-96% by mass. The type of aggregate, its mineralogy,and physical and chemical properties is believed to have a significantimpact on asphalt performance. Suitable aggregates, and theirproperties, for use in conforming to European asphalt mixtures can bespecified according to national or regional standards, such as EN 13043(BSI, 2002). This standard defines aggregate as a ‘granular materialused in construction’, and separates this into one of three types (i)natural, (ii) manufactured, (iii) recycled aggregates, described asfollows: (i) Natural aggregate: ‘aggregate from mineral sources that hasbeen subjected to nothing more than mechanical processing’ (e.g. crushedrock, sands and gravel, often referred to as primary aggregate); (ii)Manufactured aggregate: ‘aggregate of mineral origin resulting from anindustrial process involving thermal or other modification’ (e.g. blastfurnace slag); and (iii) Recycled aggregate: ‘aggregate resulting fromthe processing of inorganic or mineral material previously used inconstruction’ (e.g. reclaimed asphalt).

Further categorisation of aggregates can be given by the description forparticle size: (i) coarse aggregate: substantially retained on a 2 mmtest sieve; (ii) fine aggregate: substantially passing a 2 mm testsieve; (iii) all-in aggregate: a combination of coarse and fineaggregates; and (iv) filler aggregate: substantially passing a 0.063 mmtest sieve.

Rock-types suitable as aggregate(s) are meant to comprise (i) igneous,(ii) sedimentary, and/or (iii) metamorphic rock.

In the context of the present invention, the term “plasticity modifyingagent(s)” is meant to comprise one or more of plastomer, thermoplasticelastomer, rubber, viscosity modifier, and reactive polymer.

In the context of the present invention, the term “plastomer” is meantto comprise compounds such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA),ethylene-methyl acrylate (EMA), ethylene-butyl acrylate (EBA), atacticpolypropylene (APP), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinylchloride (PVC), and polystyrene (PS), including any combination thereof.

In the context of the present invention, the term ‘thermoplasticelastomer’ is meant to comprise compounds such as styrene-butadieneelastomer (SBE), linear or radial styrene-butadiene-styrene elastomer(SBS), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), styrene-isoprene-styreneelastomer (SIS), styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene elastomer (SEBS),ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM), isobutene-isoprene randomcopolymer (IIR), polyisobutene (PIB), polybutadiene (PBD), polyisoprene(PI), including any combination thereof.

In the context of the present invention, the term ‘rubber(s)’ is meantto comprise crumb rubber, rubber from used tyres, recycled rubber,natural rubber, rubber latex, and the like.

In the context of the present invention, the term ‘viscositymodifier(s)’ is meant to comprise one or more flux oil (aromatics,napthenics, parrafinics), or Fischer-Tropsch waxes, including anycombination thereof.

In the context of the present invention, the term ‘reactive polymer(s)’is meant to comprise conpounds such as one or more random terpolymer ofethylene, acrylic ester and glycidyl methacrylate, or maleicanhydride-grafted styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer, including anycombination thereof.

In the context of the present invention, the term “anti-foamingagent(s)” is meant to comprise one or more compounds and/orcompositions, often silicone-based, such as active silicone polymers,siloxane polymers, organo-modified siloxanes, but also non-siliconecompounds/compositions comprising polypropylene based polyetherdispersions, fatty acid-type antifoams, non-ionic emulsifiers. A varietyof anti-foaming agent(s) are commercially available and are effective inpreventing and/or reducing foaming, and/or decreasing the half-life offoam significantly in bitumen- and/or asphalt-based applications.

In the context of the present invention, the term “active component” ismeant to comprise e.g. dispersing agent(s), surfactant(s), hydrotropicagent(s), emulsifier(s), preserving agent(s), anti-foaming agent (s),viscosity modifier(s), reactive polymer(s) and any combination thereof.

In the context of the present invention, unless indicated otherwise, “%”indicates % weight/weight (w/w).

In the context of the present invention, the terms “about”, “around”,“approximately” or the symbol “˜” can be used interchangeably, and aremeant to comprise variations generally accepted in the field, e.g.comprising analytical errors and the like. Thus “about” may alsoindicate measuring uncertainty commonly experienced in the art, whichcan be in the order of magnitude of e.g. +/−1, 2, 5, 10, 20, or even 50percent.

The term “comprising” is to be interpreted as specifying the presence ofthe stated parts, steps, features, components, or the like, but does notexclude the presence of one or more additional parts, steps, features,components etc. For example, a composition comprising a chemicalcompound may thus comprise additional chemical compounds.

With respect to lignin, lignin-components and/or lignin rich fractions,including methods of their provision and definitions, reference is madeto application No. PCT/DK2015/050242, filed on 14 Aug. 2015. In thecontext of the present invention, the term “lignin” is meant to comprisethe term “lignin-component” as defined in PCT/DK2015/050242, and bothterms may be used interchangeably. In the context of the presentinvention, the term “lignin” is meant to comprise the term“lignin-component”, and both terms may be used interchangeably. Thus,the term “lignin” in the present description and in the appended claimsmay also refers to the polymer denoted as such and being present inunprocessed lignocellulosic plant material. Furthermore, the term“lignin” shall also be understood to mean a “lignin” that has beensubject to various physical and/or chemical treatments imposing changesof the lignin polymer structure, while mostly still retaining itspolymer character and containing significant amounts of hemicelluloseand cellulose.

Hence, “lignin”, as used in the present description and in the appendedclaims may refer to a lignin that has been subjected to slightstructural modifications.

Also, “lignin” as used in the present description and in the appendedclaims may refer to a lignin that has been subjected to slightstructural modifications and/or comprising an amount of chemicalresidues originating from its mode of manufacture, or originating fromcompounds native for the lignocellulosic material from which it isisolated.

In some claims of the various aspects of the present invention, “lignin”may specifically exclude a Kraft lignin or a Kraft lignin fragmentobtained from a Kraft processing of a lignocellulosic biomass.

In some embodiments of the various aspects of the present invention,“lignin” may specifically exclude lignosulfonate, such as a productobtainable from sulfite pulping. As in Kraft pulping, the temperatureduring sulfite pulping is 130-180° C. Usually, sulfite pulping isconducted at low pH (e.g. 1.5-5) in the presence of HSO₃ ⁻ and/or SO₃ ²⁻ions. During sulfite pulping lignin is sulfonated, and the resultinglignosulfonate is water-soluble and has a high number of charged groups.

In some embodiments of the various aspects of the present invention“lignin” may specifically exclude soda lignin, a product obtainable fromsoda pulping. In this process, pulping occurs in an essentiallysulfur-free medium, e.g. in contrast to the Kraft process, comprisingonly or predominantly soda.

In some embodiments of the various aspects of the present invention“lignin” may specifically exclude organosolv lignin, obtainable from apulping process, where organic solvents and water are used to rid thelignin from cellulose. Temperatures during processing range e.g from140° C. to 220° C. For enhancing solubilization of lignin, sulfuric acidmay be added during the process. A number of organic solvents aresuitable for such a process, such as acetic acid, formic acid, ethanol,peroxiorganic acids, acetone, methanol, butanol, ethylene glycol.Organosolv lignin possesses usually lower molecular weight and higherchemical purity. Organosolv lignins are typically hydrophobic and showlow water-solubility.

Another process for obtaining lignin is by extraction in ionic liquids(producing ionic liquid lignin). Ionic liquids are salts, which are inliquid state at a relatively low temperature (e.g. below 100° C.).Lignin obtained with ionic liquids is believed to possess similarproperties as organosolv lignin. However, regeneration of ionic liquidis problematic, and industrial scale production is therefore limiteduntil further progress within this field has been achieved.

In some embodiments of the various aspects of the present invention“lignin” may specifically exclude ionic liquid lignin.

Whereas the term “lignin” in the present description and in the appendedclaims refers to the polymer denoted as such and being present inunprocessed lignocellulosic plant material, the term “lignin component”in the present description and in the appended claims has a broadermeaning.

The term “lignin component” shall in the present description and in theappended claims be understood to mean a “lignin” that has been subjectto various physical and/or chemical treatments imposing minor changes ofthe lignin polymer structure, however still retaining its polymercharacter and containing significant amounts of hemicellulose andcellulose.

Hence a “lignin component” as used in the present description and in theappended claims may refer to a lignin that has been subjected to slightstructural modifications.

Also a “lignin component” as used in the present description and in theappended claims may refer to a lignin that has been subjected to slightstructural modifications and/or comprising an amount of chemicalresidues originating from its mode of manufacture, or originating fromcompounds native for the lignocellulosic material from which it isisolated.

In some embodiments of the various aspects of the present invention a“lignin component” may specifically exclude a Kraft lignin or a Kraftlignin fragment obtained from a Kraft processing of a lignocellulosicbiomass.

In some embodiments of the various aspects of the present invention a“lignin component” may specifically exclude a lignosulfonate.

In some embodiments of the various aspects of the present invention a“lignin component” may specifically exclude a soda lignin.

In the context of the present invention, the term “lignin” is meant tocomprise a by-product from 2nd generation (2G) bioethanol production.There are various different 2nd generation bioethanol processes known inthe art that may provide such a lignin component, incl. organosolsprocesses. Schemes for processing lignocellulosic biomass, includingspecific process steps as well as overall schemes for converting alignocellulosic biomass to soluble saccharides and a fibrous fractionbeing or comprising the lignin component, are the subject of numerouspublished patents and patent applications. See e.g. WO 94/03646; WO94/29474; WO 2006/007691; US2007/0031918; WO 2008/112291; WO2008/137639; EP 2 006 354; US 2009/0326286; US 2009/0325251; WO2009/059149; US 2009/0053770; EP 2 169 074; WO 2009/102256; US2010/0065128; US 2010/0041119; WO 2010/060050; WO2007009463 A2,WO2007009463 A1; WO2011125056 A1; and WO2009125292 A2, WO 2014/019589each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in entirety.

“Lignocellulosic biomass” refers to plant biomass comprising celluloseand lignin, and usually also hemicellulose and includes biomass, such assoft lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks, such as agricultural waste suchas cereal straw, e.g. wheat, barley, rye or sorghum straw, grass,leaves, sugar cane bagasse, sweet sorghum bagasse, corn stover, andempty fruit bunches, municipal solid waste (MSW), digestate, otherwaste, etc. The term “biomass” also means other types of biomass, suchas waste, sewage, manure.

“Soft lignocellulosic biomass” refers to plant biomass other than wood,which comprises cellulose and lignin, and usually also hemicellulose.

“Lignocellulosic biomass”, such as soft lignocellulosic biomassfeedstocks, such as agricultural waste such as cereal straw, e.g. wheat,barley, rye or sorghum straw, grass, leaves, sugar cane bagasse, sweetsorghum bagasse, corn stover, and empty fruit bunches, municipal solidwaste (MSW), digestate, other waste or biomass, etc., are pretreated,usually preceded by a cleaning step, where e.g. sand, stones, foreignobjects and the like are removed, and/or after a by single-stageautohydrolysis to xylan number 10% or higher typically comprise a smallcomponent of C6 monomers (1×), primarily glucose with some other sugars;a larger component of soluble C6 oligomers (about 2×-7×); a largercomponent of C5 monomers (about 4×-8×), primarily xylose with somearabinose and other sugars; and a much larger component of solublexylo-oligomers (about 18×-30×) wherein “nx” refers to the number ofsugar units, i.e. 1×=monomer, 2×=dimer, and so forth. Solublexylo-oligomers typically include primarily xylohexose, xylopentose,xylotetraose, xylotriose and xylobiose with some higher chain oligomers.Xylo-oligomers can also be modified, such as esterified.

Different feedstocks can be pretreated using single-stage autohydrolysisto e.g. xylan number 10% or greater by a variety of differentcombinations of reactor residence times and temperatures. One skilled inthe art will readily determine through routine experimentation anappropriate pretreatment routine to apply with any given feedstock,using any given reactor, and with any given biomass reactor-loading andreactor-unloading system. Where feedstocks are pretreated using acontinuous reactor, loaded by either a sluice-system or a screw-plugfeeder, and unloaded by either a “particle pump” sluice system or ahydrocyclone system, very low severity of 10% or greater xylan numbercan e.g. be achieved using typical strains of wheat straw or empty fruitbunches by a temperature of 180° C. and a reactor residence time of 24minutes. For typical biomass feedstocks, such as soft lignocellulosicbiomass from commonly used varieties of corn stover, sugar cane bagasse,and sweet sorghum bagasse, it is believed that low severities, such asxylan numbers >10% can be achieved using a temperature of around 180° C.and a reactor residence time of around 12 minutes, or using atemperature of around 175° C. and a reactor residence time of around 17minutes. It will be readily understood by one skilled in the art thatresidence times and temperatures maybe adjusted to achieve comparablelevels of Ro severity. Following pretreatment, pretreated biomass isseparated into a solid fraction and a liquid fraction by a solid/liquidseparation step. It will be readily understood that “solid fraction” and“liquid fraction” may be further subdivided or processed. In someembodiments, biomass may be removed from a pretreatment reactorconcurrently with solid/liquid separation. In some embodiments,pretreated biomass is subject to a solid/liquid separation step after ithas been unloaded from the reactor, typically using a simple and lowcost screw press system, to generate a solid fraction and a liquidfraction. Cellulase enzyme activities are inhibited by liquid fraction,most notably due to xylo-oligomer content but possibly also due tophenol content and/or other compounds not yet identified. It can beadvantageous to achieve the highest practicable levels of dry mattercontent in the solid fraction or, alternatively, to remove the highestpracticable amount of dissolved solids from the solid fraction. In someembodiments, solid/liquid separation achieves a solid fraction having aDM content of at least 40%, at least 45%, at least 50% or at least 55%.Solid/liquid separation using ordinary screw press systems can typicallyachieve DM levels as high as 50% in the solid fraction, especially whenthe biomass feedstock has been pretreated and processed in such mannerthat fiber structure is maintained.

The term “digestate” is preferably used to mean the material remainingafter the anaerobic digestion of a biodegradable feedstock. Thedigestate may advantageously be separated by separation means, such asfilters, sedimentation tanks or the like into “dewatered digestate” and“reject water”.

In the context of the present invention, the term “feedstock” or“substrate” preferably means a cellulosic, hemicellulosic,lignocellulosic or starch containing biomass and also oils and proteincontaining substrates and a fat, protein, sugar, cellulose,hemicellulose or starch containing biomass.

In this context, the term “waste” preferably means any kind of wastehaving an organic content, such as municipal solid waste (MSW),industrial waste, animal waste or plant waste.

In the context of the present invention, the term “anaerobic digestion”preferably refers to microbial activity, such as but not limited tofermentation under controlled aeration conditions, e.g. in absence orvery limited amount of oxygen gas in which methane gas and/or hydrogenis produced. Methane gas is produced to the extent that theconcentration of metabolically generated dissolved methane in theaqueous phase of the fermentation mixture within the “anaerobicdigestion” is saturating at the conditions used and methane gas isemitted from the system.

The term “aerobic digestion” preferably refers to microbial fermentationconducted under aerated conditions.

The digestate or dewatered digestate can be subjected to a processingstep and be fed back into a fermenter (AD (aerobic as well as anaerobicdigestion), FAD, CSTR, CSTR/FAD hybrid), or even back to a microbialprocess producing a “bioliquid” (=the substrate for biogas productionvia AD)—e.g. a waste treatment facility, such as a MSW (municipal solidwaste) treatment facility (e.g. à la REnescience process in whichunsorted MSW is wetted and warmed to temperatures appropriate forenzymatic hydrolysis; through enzymatic action, biodegradable materialsare liquefied, which permits easy separation of non-degradable solids).Such processing of unsorted MSW is considered a robust process. Theabsence of e.g. shredding and/or significant heat/pressure treatment mayresulting in for example potatoes not being efficiently converted to“bioliquid”.

As presented herein “digestate” can be separated by separation meansinto “dewatered digestate” and “reject water”. The digestate ordewatered digestate can be subjected to a processing step and be fedback into a fermenter (AD, FAD, CSTR, CSTR included a FAD), or even backto a enzymatical and/or microbial process producing a “bioliquid” (e.g.the substrate for biogas production via AD) such as a waste treatmentfacility, such as a MSW (municipal solid waste) treatment facility (e.g.a REnescience process) essentially without significant heat/pressuretreatment, resulting in for example raw potatoes or other vegetables notalways being converted efficiently to “bioliquid”.

“Dry matter,” also appearing as “DM”, refers to total solids, bothsoluble and insoluble, and effectively means “non-water content.” Drymatter content is measured by drying at 105° C. until constant weight isachieved. “Fiber structure” is maintained to the extent that the averagesize of fiber fragments following pretreatment is >750 μm.

“Hydrothermal pretreatment” or sometimes only “pretreatment” commonlyrefers to the use of water, either as hot liquid, vapour steam orpressurized steam comprising high temperature liquid or steam or both,to “cook” biomass, at temperatures of 120° C. or higher, either with orwithout addition of acids or other chemicals. In the context of thepresent invention, “hydrothermal pretreatment” is meant to comprisemethods, unit operations and/or processes relating to softeninglignocellulosic biomass by the use of temperature and water, andusually, also, pressure, aiming at providing a pretreated biomasssuitable for enzymatic digestion.

“Single-stage pressurized hydrothermal pretreatment” refers to apretreatment in which biomass is subject to pressurized hydrothermalpretreatment in a single reactor configured to heat biomass in a singlepass and in which no further pressurized hydrothermal pretreatment isapplied following a solid/liquid separation step to remove liquidfraction from feedstock subject to pressurized hydrothermalpretreatment.

“Solid/liquid separation” refers to an active mechanical process, and/orunit operation(s), whereby liquid is separated from solid by applicationof force through e.g. pressing, centrifugation, sedimentation, decantingor the like. Commonly, a solid/liquid (s/l) separation provides a liquidand solid fraction.

“Solid fraction” and “Liquid fraction” refer to fractionation ofpretreated and/or hydrolysed biomass in solid/liquid separation. Theseparated liquid is collectively referred to as “liquid fraction.” Theresidual fraction comprising considerable insoluble solid content isreferred to as “solid fraction”. A “solid fraction” will have asubstantial dry matter content and typically will also comprise aconsiderable residual of “liquid fraction” thus having the form of asolid or a slurry.

In the context of the present invention, “Xylan number” refers to acharacterization of pretreated biomass determined as follows: Pretreatedbiomass is subject to solid/liquid separation to provide a solidfraction at about 30% total solids and a liquid fraction. This solidfraction is then partially washed by mixing with 70° C. water in theratio of total solids (DM) to water of 1:3 wt:wt. The solid fractionwashed in this manner is then pressed to about 30% total solids.Alternatively, the pretreated biomass can be subjected to solid/liquidseparation to provide a solid fraction at about 50% total solids and aliquid fraction. With both methods, about 25% of the dissolved solidsremain in the solid fraction with the suspended solids. Xylan content ofthe solid fraction washed in this manner can determined using e.g. themethod of A. Sluiter, et al., “Determination of structural carbohydratesand lignin in biomass,” US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)Laboratory Analytical Procedure (LAP) with issue date Apr. 25, 2008, asdescribed in Technical Report NREL/TP-510-42618, revised April 2008,which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in entirety. Thismeasurement of xylan content as described will include some contributionof soluble material from residual liquid fraction that is not washed outof solid fraction under these conditions. Accordingly, in the context ofthe present invention, the term “xylan number(s)” relates to(pre)treatment severities and relates to a composite measurement and/orvalues that reflect a weighted combination of both residual xylancontent remaining within insoluble solids and also the concentration ofsoluble xylose and xylo-oligomers within the liquid fraction. At lowerRo severity, xylan number is higher. Thus, the highest xylan numberrefers to the lowest pretreatment severity. Xylan number provides anegative linear correlation with the conventional severity measure logRo even to low severity, where residual xylan content within insolublesolids is above 10%. Generally, low, medium and high pretreatmentseverities provide xylan numbers of >10%, 6-10%, and <6%, respectively.

In particular, surprisingly and unexpectedly, the inventors haverealized that the source of the lignin component has an influence on thequality of the bitumen composition. In particular, a less polar ligninappears more suitable, such as a bitumen composition, wherein saidlignin component is not lignin from paper and pulp production, such asKraft lignin, wherein said Kraft lignin being provided from biomass by aprocess known in the art as Kraft process/method (see e.g. Biermann,Christopher J. (1993) “Essentials of Pulping and Papermaking” San Diego:Academic Press, Inc.).

Without wanting to be bound by any theory, it is believed that analkaline treatment has a negative effect on the lignin quality for usesrelated to the present invention, thus in some embodiments, said lignincomponent has not been provided by a Kraft method or another methodcomprising an alkaline treatment, such as by addition of NaOH or anotherbase to provide a pH of around 10 or higher, at or around pH 11 orhigher, or at or around pH 12 or higher.

Furthermore, it is believed that further modifications of the lignin orlignin component are not necessary to obtain a bitumen compositionaccording to the present invention, thus some embodiments concerndesired a lignin component has not been esterified and/or subjected toan esterification step, e.g. as disclosed in WO2015/094098. It isbelieved to be an advantage that no further steps are needed, such assaid modification of the lignin.

It appears a complex, if not to say an impossible task to measurepolarity of a complex composition such as lignin. However, the inventorshave developed a method to assess polarity, based on lignin's ionexchange capacity (LIEC; see e.g. Experimental section for furtherdetails) and/or the phenolic hydroxyl content of lignin. It becameapparent that Kraft lignin has a significantly higher LIEC as comparedto the lignin used in the compositions of the present invention, e.g. 2Glignin that has not been subjected to an alkaline treatment. It isfurther believed that any wood, e.g. poplar wood and/or any other woodthat e.g. is suitable for the paper industry, if processed withoutalkaline treatment and to a less severity, such as in a 2G processaiming at bioethanol production, will result in a lignin that is lesspolar, and thus suitable for providing a bitumen composition accordingto the present invention.

In the context of the present invention, the terms “two-stagepretreatment” or “two-step pretreatment” can be used interchangeably andare meant to comprise a process comprising two or more stagepretreatment steps, usually designed to provide improved C5 yields, suchas processes disclosed in WO2010/113129; US2010/0279361; WO 2009/108773;US2009/0308383; U.S. Pat. No. 8,057,639 or US20130029406, wherein inthese “two stage” pretreatment schemes, some C5-rich liquid fraction isremoved by solid/liquid separation after a lower temperaturepretreatment, followed by a subsequent, pretreatment of the solidfraction, usually at higher temperature and/or pretreatment severity.

In the context of the present invention, the terms “C5 bypass” or “C5drain” can be used interchangeably, and are meant to comprise a process,wherein a usually C5-sugar rich liquid fraction is provided, such asthrough a liquid/solid separation step, e.g. by pressing, after and/orduring pretreatment, which can be conducted as a single stage, ortwo-stage pretreatment process. PCT/DK2013/050256, filed on 1 Aug. 2013,published as WO 2014/019589, herewith incorporated by reference in itsentirety, e.g. discloses such processes.

In the context of the present invention, the term “whole slurry” ismeant to comprise a process, wherein pretreated biomass can be useddirectly in a subsequent hydrolysis step, such as an enzymatichydrolysis and/or fermentation, such as e.g. disclosed inPCT/DK2014/050030, filed on 5 Feb. 2014, published as WO2015/014364,herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.

According to the invention, said pretreatment and/or hydrolysis ofbiomass may be performed with or without addition of one or more acid(s)or on or more base(s), such as H₂SO₄, HCl, NH₃, NH₄OH, NaOH, KOH,Ca₂(OH) and the like.

“Autohydrolysis” refers to a pretreatment process of lignocellulosicbiomass, in which acetic acid is liberated from hemicellulose duringsaid process, which is believed to further catalyse and/or improvehemicellulose hydrolysis. Autohydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass isthus conducted without or essentially without addition of any furtherchemicals, such as acid(s) or base(s), and is commonly performed at a pHbetween 3.5 and 9.0.

“Commercially available cellulase preparation optimized forlignocellulosic biomass conversion” refers to a commercially availablemixture of enzyme activities which is sufficient to provide enzymatichydrolysis of pretreated lignocellulosic biomass and which usuallycomprises endocellulase (endoglucanase), exocellulase (exoglucanase),endoxylanase, acetyl xylan esterase, xylosidase and β-glucosidaseactivities. The term “optimized for lignocellulosic biomass conversion”refers to a product development process in which enzyme mixtures havebeen selected and/or modified for the specific purpose of improvinghydrolysis yields and/or reducing enzyme consumption in hydrolysis ofpretreated lignocellulosic biomass to fermentable sugars.

The term “Cellulase(s)” is meant to comprise one or more enzymes capableof degrading cellulose and/or related compounds. Cellulase is any ofseveral enzymes commonly produced by fungi, bacteria, and protozoansthat catalyse cellulolysis, the decomposition of cellulose and/orrelated polysaccharides. Cellulase can also be used for any mixture orcomplex of various such enzymes, that act serially or synergistically todecompose cellulosic material. Cellulases break down the cellulosemolecule into monosaccharides (“simple sugars”) such as beta-glucose,and/or shorter polysaccharides and oligosaccharides. Specific reactionsmay comprise hydrolysis of the 1,4-beta-D-glycosidic linkages incellulose, hemicellulose, lichenin, and cereal beta-D-glucans. Severaldifferent kinds of cellulases are known, which differ structurally andmechanistically. Synonyms, derivatives, and/or specific enzymesassociated with the name “cellulase” comprise endo-1,4-beta-D-glucanase(beta-1,4-glucanase, beta-1,4-endoglucan hydrolase, endoglucanase D,1,4-(1,3,1,4)-beta-D-glucan 4-glucanohydrolase), carboxymethyl cellulase(CMCase), avicelase, celludextrinase, cellulase A, cellulosin AP, alkalicellulase, cellulase A 3, 9.5 cellulase, and pancellase SS.

Cellulases can also be classified based on the type of reactioncatalysed, where endocellulases (EC 3.2.1.4) randomly cleave internalbonds at amorphous sites that create new chain ends, exocellulases orcellobiohydrolases (EC 3.2.1.91) cleave two to four units from the endsof the exposed chains produced by endocellulase, resulting in tetra-,tri- or disaccharides, such as cellobiose. Exocellulases are furtherclassified into type I—that work processively from the reducing end ofthe cellulose chain, and type II—that work processively from thenonreducing end. Cellobiases (EC 3.2.1.21) or beta-glucosidaseshydrolyse the exocellulase product into individual monosaccharides.Oxidative cellulases depolymerize cellulose by radical reactions, as forinstance cellobiose dehydrogenase (acceptor). Cellulose phosphorylasesdepolymerize cellulose using phosphates instead of water.

The term “Hemicellulase(s)” is meant to comprise one or more enzymescapable and/or contributing to breaking down hemicellulose, one of themajor components of plant cell walls. Some of the main polysaccharidesthat constitute hemicellulose are believed to be xylan, arabinoxylan,xyloglucan, glucuronoxylan and glucomannan. In the context of thepresent invention, the term “hemicellulase(s)” is meant to comprise:xylanase(s), xylosidase(s), arabinoxylanase(s), xyloglucanase(s),glucoronoxylanase(s), glucomannanase(s), and/or esterase(s), includingany combination thereof.

In the following section, further embodiments of the different aspect ofthe invention are disclosed in detail.

In a first aspect, the present invention concerns a compositioncomprising bitumen, one or more plasticity modifying agent(s), lignin,and optionally one or more further component(s); wherein said lignin isobtained by a process for treatment of a lignocellulosic biomass, saidprocess comprising:

-   -   a) subjecting lignocellulosic biomass to hydrothermal        pretreatment resulting in a hydrothermally pretreated        lignocellulosic biomass; followed by    -   b) subjecting at least part of said hydrothermally pretreated        lignocellulosic biomass obtained in step (a) to a hydrolysis        resulting in a liquid fraction comprising soluble carbohydrates,        and a fiber fraction comprising a lignin component, wherein said        hydrolysis is an acid catalyzed hydrolysis and/or enzymatic        hydrolysis; followed by    -   c) optionally subjecting at least part of the liquid fraction        obtained in step (b) to a fermentation in order to ferment at        least part of said soluble carbohydrates to a fermentation        product, such as ethanol, methane or butanol, thereby obtaining        a fermentation broth.

In one embodiment, the present invention concerns a compositioncomprising bitumen, one or more plasticity modifying agent(s), lignin,and optionally one or more further component(s); wherein said lignin isobtained by a process for treatment of a lignocellulosic biomass, saidprocess comprising:

-   -   a) subjecting lignocellulosic biomass to hydrothermal        pretreatment at a pH within the range of 3.5 to 9.0, at a        temperature between 150 and 260° C., preferably 150-200° C., for        a residence time of less than 60 minutes resulting in a        hydrothermally pretreated lignocellulosic biomass; followed by    -   b) subjecting at least part of said hydrothermally pretreated        lignocellulosic biomass obtained in step (a) to a hydrolysis        resulting at a temperature between 30 and 72° C. for period        between 24 and 150 hours in a liquid fraction comprising soluble        carbohydrates, and a fiber fraction comprising a lignin        component, wherein said hydrolysis is an acid catalyzed        hydrolysis and/or enzymatic hydrolysis; followed by    -   c) optionally subjecting at least part of the liquid fraction        obtained in step (b) to a fermentation in order to ferment at        least part of said soluble carbohydrates to a fermentation        product, such as ethanol, methane or butanol, thereby obtaining        a fermentation broth.

In some embodiments, said at least part of said lignin fraction isisolated from the fiber fraction obtained in step (b).

In some embodiments, said at least part of said lignin fraction isisolated from said fermentation broth obtained in step (c).

In some embodiments, said hydrothermal pretreatment of saidlignocellulosic biomass is performed at a temperature of 150-260° C.,such as 160-250° C., 150-200° C., or e.g. 170-240° C., such as 180-230°C., for example 190-220° C., such as 200-210° C.

In some embodiments, said hydrothermal pretreatment of saidlignocellulosic biomass is performed in a period of residence time of2-120 min., such as 5-110 min., e.g. 10-100 min., for example 15-90min., such as 20-80 min., such as 25-70 min., e.g. 30-60 min, such as35-50 min, such as 40-45 min.

In some embodiments, soaking/wetting with an aqueous solution can serveto adjust pH prior to pretreatment to the range of between 3.5 and 9.0,which is typically advantageous for autohydrolysis. It will be readilyunderstood that pH may change during pretreatment, typically to moreacidic levels as acetic acid is liberated from solubilizedhemicellulose. Further suitable pH values may be disclosed elsewhereherein.

Suitable hydrothermal pretreatment reactors typically include mostpulping reactors known from the pulp and paper industry. In someembodiments, hydrothermal pretreatment is administered by steam within areactor pressurized to 10 bar or lower, or to 12 bar or lower, or to 4bar or higher, or 8 bar or higher, or between 8 and 18 bar, or between18 and 20 bar. In some embodiments, the pretreatment reactor isconfigured for a continuous inflow of feedstock.

In some embodiments, said hydrothermal pretreatment of saidlignocellulosic biomass is performed by subjecting said lignocellulosicbiomass to a log severity, log(Ro) of 2.5 or more, such as a log(Ro) of2.6 or more, e.g. a log(Ro) of 2.7 or more, such as a log(Ro) of 2.8 ormore, for example a log(Ro) of 2.9 or more, such as a log(Ro) of 3.0 ormore, such as a log(Ro) of 3.1 or more, for example a log(Ro) of 3.2 ormore, e.g. a log(Ro) of 3.3 or more, such as a log(Ro) of 3.4 or more,such as a log(Ro) of 3.5 or more; such as a log(Ro) of 3.6 or more; forexample such as a log(Ro) of 3.7 or more, e.g. a log(Ro) of 3.8 or more,for example a log(Ro) of 3.9 or more, for example a log(Ro) of 4.0 ormore, such as a log(Ro) of 4.1 or more, or a log(Ro) of 4.2 or more;wherein the log severity is defined as: log(Ro)=(residencetime)×(exp[Temperature−100/14.75]). In some further embodiments, saidhydrothermal pretreatment of said lignocellulosic biomass results in axylan number of: 5% or more, 6% or more, 7% or more, 8% or more, 9% ormore, 10% or more. The xylan number may be in the range of 5-20%, 5-15%,5-12.5%, 5-10%. In an alternative, the xylan number may be in the rangeof 8-20, 8-15 or 8-12.5%.

In some embodiments, the pretreatment is conducted at a dry matter (DM)content in the range of 5-80%, such as 10-70%, such as 20-60%, or suchas 30-50%, or at a DM content around 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%,40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80% or at a DM content of morethan 80%. In some other embodiments, the pretreatment is conducted at aDM content of 5-10%, 10-20%, 20-30%, 30-40%, 40-50%, 50-60%, 60-70%, oreven 70-80%. In some further embodiments, the pretreatment is conductedat a DM content of or around 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%,50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80% or at a DM content of more than 80%.

In some embodiments, said hydrolysis comprises the action of one or morecellulase(s). In some further embodiments, said one or more cellulasesare selected from the group comprising exo-glucanases, endo-glucanases,hemi-cellulases and beta-glucosidases.

In some embodiments, said hydrolysis is performed for a period of timeof 1-200 hours, such as 5-190 hours, such as 10-185 hours, e.g. 15-180hours, for example 20-175 hours, such as 25-170 hours, such as 30-165hours, e.g. 35-160 hours, for example 40-155 hours, such as 45-150hours, such as 50-145 hours, e.g. 55-140 hours, for example 60-135hours, such as 65-130 hours, such as 70-125 hours, e.g. 75-120 hours,for example 80-115 hours, such as 85-110 hours, such as 90-105 hours,e.g. 95-100 hours.

In some embodiments, said step (b) and step (c) are performed as aseparate hydrolysis and fermentation step (SHF), and wherein saidhydrolysis is performed at a temperature of 30-72° C., such as 32-70°C., e.g. 34-68° C., for example 36-66° C., such as 38-64° C., e.g.40-62° C., 42-60° C., e.g. 44-58° C., for example 46-56° C., such as48-54° C., e.g. 50-52° C.

In some embodiments, said hydrolysis is performed in a period of time of70-125 hours, e.g. 75-120 hours, for example 80-115 hours, such as85-110 hours, such as 90-105 hours, e.g. 95-100 hours.

In some embodiments, said hydrolysis is conducted at a pH in the rangeof at least pH 3.0, such as in the range of pH 3.0-6.0, such as pH4.0-5.5, and/or such as pH 4.2-5.4.

In some embodiments, said is conducted at a pH of around 4.2, 4.5, 4.7,4.8, 4.9, 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 or 5.4.

In some embodiments, said hydrolysis is conducted at a suitable drymatter (DM) content, such as a DM content of at least 10%, such as 15%.In some embodiments, the DM content is around 15-45%, 20-40%, 25-35%,and/or at a DM content around 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, or 40%. In someembodiments, the DM content is around 40% or higher.

In some embodiments, said step (b) and step (c) are performed as asimultaneous saccharification and fermentation step (SSF), and whereinsaid hydrolysis is performed at a temperature of 30-72° C., such as32-70° C., e.g. 34-68° C., for example 36-66° C., such as 38-64° C.,e.g. 40-62° C., 42-60° C., e.g. 44-58° C., for example 46-56° C., suchas 48-54° C., e.g. 50-52° C.

In some embodiments, said hydrolysis is performed in a period of time of1-12 hours, such as 2-11 hours, for example 3-10 hours, such as 4-9hours, e.g. 5-8 hours, such as 6-7 hours.

In some embodiments, said step (b) and step (c) are performed as asimultaneous saccharification and fermentation step (SSF), and whereinsaid fermentation is performed at a temperature of 25-40° C., such as26-39° C., e.g. 27-38° C., for example 28-37° C., e.g. 29-36° C., forexample 30-35° C., such as 31-34° C. or 32-33° C.

In some embodiments, said fermentation is performed in a period of timeof 100-200 hours, such as 105-190 hours, such as 110-185 hours, e.g.115-180 hours, for example 120-175 hours, such as 125-170 hours, such as130-165 hours, e.g. 135-160 hours, for example 140-155 hours, such as145-150 hours.

In some embodiments, microbial fermentation is conducted underconditions that discourage methane production by methanogens, forexample, at pH less than 6.0, or at pH less than 5.8, or at pH less than5.6, or at pH less than 5.5. Thus, the pH may preferably be in the rangeof 1-6, preferably 2-6, more preferred 3.5-5.5 or most preferred 4-5.5.

In some embodiments, said process for treatment of a lignocellulosicbiomass comprises a “C5 bypass”, i.e. comprises a solid/liquidseparation step before step (b), wherein the liquid fraction is notsubjected to said hydrolysis in step (b).

In some embodiments, said process comprises a two (or more) steptreatment, and optionally, wherein a liquid fraction is collected aftera first pretreatment step, e.g. by pressing.

In some embodiments, said process is conducted as “whole slurry”process, i.e. wherein the pretreated biomass is subjected directly in asubsequent hydrolysis step, such as an enzymatic hydrolysis and/orfermentation.

In some embodiments, said lignin is obtained from soft lignocellulosicbiomass, such as a biomass used or suitable for 2^(nd) generationbioethanol production, or from a process comprising essentially noaddition of acid or base during pretreatment.

In some embodiments, the lignocellulosic material is softlignocellulosic biomass, e.g. agricultural waste such as one or more ofwheat straw, corn stover, corn cobs, empty fruit bunches, rice straw,oat straw, barley straw, canola straw, rye straw, sorghum, sweetsorghum, soybean stover, switch grass, Bermuda grass and other grasses,bagasse, beet pulp, corn fiber, or any combinations thereof. In someembodiments, the lignocellulosic biomass may also be predominantly orentirely ensiled biomass, or comprise ensiled biomass, such as at least5, 10, 25, 50%, 75%, 90%, 95%, 99% or more ensiled biomass.

In some embodiments, the lignocellulosic material is not softlignocellulosic biomass. Examples of such non-soft lignocellulosicbiomass comprise e.g. wood, wood chips, bark, branches, but also paper,newsprint, cardboard, or even municipal waste, such as sorted orunsorted municipal waste, or office wastes. In some embodiments, thelignocellulosic biomass may also be predominantly or entirely non-softlignocellulosic biomass, or comprise non-soft lignocellulosic biomass,such as at least 5, 10, 25, 50% or more than 50% non-softlignocellulosic biomass.

In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a the compositioncomprising bitumen, one or more plasticity modifying agent(s), lignin,and optionally one or more further component(s); wherein said lignin hasa Lignin Ion Exchange Capacity (LIEC) of 0.4 mol/kg dry matter (DM) orless.

In some embodiments, said lignin has a Lignin Ion Exchange Capacity(LIEC) of 0.35 mol/kg dry matter (DM) or less, such as 0.30 mol/kg DM orless, such as 0.25 mol/kg DM or less, such as 0.20 mol/kg DM or less, orsuch as 0.15 mol/kg DM or less.

In some embodiments, said lignin has a Lignin Ion Exchange Capacity(LIEC) in the range of 0.05-0.40, preferably 0.05-0.30, more preferred0.05-0.20, or especially preferred 0.05-0.15 mol/kg DM.

In some embodiments, said lignin has a phenolic OH (phOH) content of 2mmol/g or less, preferably 1.75 mmol/g or less, especially preferred 1.5mmol/g or less.

In other embodiments, said lignin has a phenolic OH (phOH) content inthe range of 0.50-2.0 mmol/g, preferably 0.50-1.75 mmol/g, especiallypreferred 0.50-1.50 mmol/g or 0.1-1.50 mmol/kg.

In some embodiments, said lignin has a sulphur (S) content of 0.4% orless. In other embodiments, said lignin has a sulphur content of 0.35%or less, such as 0.30% or less, such as 0.25% or less, such as 0.20% orless, such as 0.15% or less (w/w).

In some embodiments, said lignin has a sulphur content in the range of0.05-0.40%, preferably 0.05-0.30%, or especially preferred 0.05-0.20%(w/w).

In some embodiments, the bitumen can be e.g. straight run bitumen, hardbitumen, oxidised bitumen, cut-back bitumen or fluxed bitumen.

In some embodiments, said further component(s) being one or moreaggregate(s) and/or filler(s), such as natural, manufactured and/orrecycled aggregates, including any combination thereof. Suitableaggregates and/or fillers can be such commonly used in the field. Theycan e.g. be one or more of coarse aggregate, fine aggregate, all-inaggregate, and filler aggregate, thus they may comprise a mixture ofdifferent aggregates and/or fillers.

In some embodiments the aggregate or filler comprises igneous,sedimentary, and/or metamorphic rock, such as Granite, Syenite,Granodiorite, Diorite, Gabbro, Dolerite, Diabase, Rhyolite, Trachyte,Andesite, Dacite, Basalt; Sandstone, Gritstone, Conglomerate, Breccia,Arkose, Greywacke, Quartzite (ortho), Shale, Siltstone, Limestone,Chalk, Dolomite, Chert, Flint, and Amphibolites, Gneiss, Granulite,Hornfels, Marble, Quartzite (meta), Serpentinite, Schist, Slate;including any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, said one or more further component(s) can also be,or comprise one or more active component (s).

In some embodiments, said composition(s) comprises or consists of: (a)1-99.89% (w/w) bitumen; (b) 0.01-20% (w/w) plasticity modifyingagent(s); (c) 0.1-50% (w/w) lignin; and (d) 0-95% (w/w) furthercomponent(s).

In some embodiments, said composition(s) comprises or consists of: (a)25-99.89% (w/w) bitumen; (b) 0.01-20% (w/w) plasticity modifyingagent(s); (c) 0.1-50% (w/w) lignin; wherein the w/w % of (a), (b) and/or(c) is calculated as weight per total weight of the sum of bitumen (a),plasticity modifying agents (b) and lignin (c).

In some embodiments, said composition(s) comprises or consists of: (a)25-99.89% (w/w) bitumen; (b) 0.01-20% (w/w) plasticity modifyingagent(s); (c) 0.1-50% (w/w) lignin; 0-95% (w/w) further component(s),wherein the w/w % of (a), (b) and/or (c) is calculated as weight pertotal weight of the sum of bitumen (a), plasticity modifying agents (b)and lignin (c), i.e. excluding the further component(s).

In some embodiments, said composition(s) comprises 25-99.89, 60-94, or74-86% (w/w) bitumen.

In some embodiments, said composition(s) comprises 0.01-20, 1-10, or4-6% (w/w) plasticity modifying agent(s).

In some embodiments, said composition comprises 0.1-50, 5-30, or 10-20%(w/w) lignin.

In some embodiments, said composition comprises 0-99 or 1-95% (w/w)further component(s).

In some embodiments, said composition comprises 0-20, 0.1-15, 1-10, or2-5% (w/w) active component.

In some embodiments, said composition comprises 0-99, or 0-98, 0-97,0-96, 0-95, 0-94, 0-93, 0-92, 0-91, 0-90, 0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40,40-50, 50-60, 60-70, 70-80, 80-90, 80-98, 85-97 or 90-95% (w/w)aggregate and/or filler.

Compositions according to the first or second aspect of the inventioncan be suitable for e.g. road construction, sealing work and the like,and/or any use according to e.g. the third aspect of the invention.

In some embodiments, the (i) bitumen; (ii) bitumen and plasticitymodifying agent (such as a polymer-modified bitumen (PMB)); (iii) thebitumen comprising lignin; the PMB and lignin; and/or said compositionitself may have one or more characteristics as specified in any one ofEN 12591, EN 13924, EN 14023, IS 73:2006, ASTM D946-09, ASTM D3381-09and M 226-80, EN 12591:2009a (BSI, 2009a), EN 13924:2006 (BSI, 2006), EN14023:2010 (BSI, 2010a), EN 13304:2009 (BSI, 2009b), EN 13305:2009 (BSI,2009c), EN 15322:201 3 (BSI, 2013), EN 14023:2010 (BSI, 2010a), EN14771:2012 (BSI, 2012a), EN 14770:2012 (BSI, 2012b), EN 13589:2008 (BSI,2008), EN 13703:2003 (BSI, 2003), EN 13587:2010 (BSI, 2010b), or EN13398:2010 (BSI, 2010c). In some further embodiments, said bitumen, PMB,bitumen comprising lignin, the PMB comprising lignin, or saidcomposition is of grade 20/30, 30/45, 35/50, 40/60, 50/70, 70/100,100/150, 160/220, 250/330, or 330/430.

In some embodiments, said one or more plasticity modifying agent is oneor more plastomer, one or more thermoplastic elastomer, one or morerubber, one or more viscosity modifier, and/or one or more reactivepolymer, including any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, said plastomer is e.g. one or more ofethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), ethylene-methyl acrylate (EMA),ethylene-butyl acrylate (EBA), atactic polypropylene (APP), polyethylene(PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polystyrene(PS). In some further embodiments, said one or more plastomer isselected from one or more of: EVA, EMA, EBA, APP, PE, PP, PVC, and PS,including any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, said thermoplastic elastomers is e.g. one or moreof butadiene elastomer (SBE), linear or radial styrene-butadiene-styreneelastomer (SBS), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR),styrene-isoprene-styrene elastomer (SIS),styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene elastomer (SEBS),ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM), isobutene-isoprene randomcopolymer (IIR), polyisobutene (PIB), polybutadiene (PBD), polyisoprene(PI). In some further embodiments, said one or more thermoplasticelastomers is selected from one or more of: SBE, SBS; SBR, SIS, EBS,EPDM, IIR, PIB, PBD, and PI, including any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, said rubber is a natural rubber, such as latex, ora synthetic rubber, such as recycled tire rubber or recycled crumbrubber.

In some embodiments, said viscosity modifier is one or more flux oil(aromatics, napthenics, parrafinics), or Fischer-Tropsch waxes,including any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, said reactive polymer is one or more randomterpolymer of ethylene, acrylic ester and glycidyl methacrylate, ormaleic anhydride-grafted styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer, includingany combination thereof.

In some embodiments, said active component is selected from the groupcomprising or consisting of one or more dispersing agent(s),surfactant(s), hydrotropic agent(s), emulsifier(s), preserving agent(s),anti-foaming agent (s), viscosity modifier(s), reactive polymer(s) andany combination thereof.

In some embodiments, said one or more further component or activecomponent is present in the range of 0.001% to 5% (w/w).

In some embodiments, said one or more plasticity modifying agent(s), thelignin, and the optional one or more further component and/or activeagent are in a state of being intermixed. In some further embodiments,said state of being intermixed is selected from the group comprising orconsisting of being intermixed as a solution; being intermixed as asuspension; being intermixed as an emulsion; being intermixed as adispersion; being intermixed as a slurry; and any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, said one or more dispersing agent is selected fromthe group comprising or consisting of non-ionic, anionic, cationic andamphoteric dispersing agent(s) and any combination and/or compatiblemixture thereof. In some further embodiments, said one or moredispersing agent is present in said composition in an amount of10-50,000 ppm or 200-20,000 ppm, such as 300-18,000 ppm, e.g. 400-16,000ppm, for example 500-14,000 ppm, such as 600-12,000 ppm, 700-10,000 ppm,for example 800-8,000 ppm, such as 900-7,000 ppm, e.g. 1,000-6,000 ppm,1,200-5,000 ppm, such as 1,400-5,000 ppm, e.g. 1,600-4,000 ppm,1,800-3,000 ppm, such as 2,000-2,800 ppm, for example 2,200-2,600 ppm(w/w) in relation to said composition, calculated either including orexcluding said optional aggregate(s) and/or optional filler(s).

In some embodiments, said one or more surfactant is selected from thegroup comprising or consisting of anionic, cationic, zwitterionic andnonionic surfactants, and any combination and/or compatible mixturethereof. In some embodiments, said one or more surfactant is present insaid composition in an amount of 10-50,000 ppm or 200-20,000 ppm, suchas 300-18,000 ppm, e.g. 400-16,000 ppm, for example 500-14,000 ppm, suchas 600-12,000 ppm, 700-10,000 ppm, for example 800-8,000 ppm, such as900-7,000 ppm, e.g. 1,000-6,000 ppm, 1,200-5,000 ppm, such as1,400-5,000 ppm, e.g. 1,600-4,000 ppm, 1,800-3,000 ppm, such as2,000-2,800 ppm, for example 2,200-2,600 ppm (w/w) in relation to saidcomposition, calculated either including or excluding said optionalaggregate(s) and/or optional filler(s).

In some embodiments, said one or more hydrotropic agent is selected fromthe group comprising or consisting of: non-ionic, anionic, cationic andamphoteric hydrotropes and any combination and/or compatible mixturesthereof. In some further embodiments, said one or more hydrotropic agentis present in said composition in an amount of 10-50,000 ppm or200-40,000 ppm, such as 300-30,000 ppm, e.g. 400-20,000 ppm, for example500-15,000 ppm, such as 600-12,000 ppm, 700-10,000 ppm, for example800-8,000 ppm, such as 900-7,000 ppm, e.g. 1,000-6,000 ppm, 1,200-5,000ppm, such as 1,400-5,000 ppm, e.g. 1,600-4,000 ppm, 1,800-3,000 ppm,such as 2,000-2,800 ppm, for example 2,200-2,600 ppm (w/w) in relationto said composition, calculated either including or excluding saidoptional aggregate(s) and/or optional filler(s).

In some embodiments, said one or more emulsifier is selected from thegroup comprising or consisting of sodium phosphate(s), sodium stearoyllactylate cationic, lecithin, DATEM (diacetyl tartaric acid ester ofmonoglyceride), and any combination and/or compatible mixture thereof.In some further embodiments, said one or more emulsifier is present insaid composition in an amount of 10-50,000 ppm or 200-20,000 ppm, suchas 300-18,000 ppm, e.g. 400-16,000 ppm, for example 500-14,000 ppm, suchas 600-12,000 ppm, 700-10,000 ppm, for example 800-8,000 ppm, such as900-7,000 ppm, e.g. 1,000-6,000 ppm, 1,200-5,000 ppm, such as1,400-5,000 ppm, e.g. 1,600-4,000 ppm, 1,800-3,000 ppm, such as2,000-2,800 ppm, for example 2,200-2,600 ppm (w/w) in relation to saidcomposition, calculated either including or excluding said optionalaggregate(s) and/or optional filler(s).

In some embodiments, said one or more preserving agent is selected fromthe group comprising or consisting of one or more carboxylate, benzoate,benzoic acid derivative such as parabene(s), aldehyde(s), thiazine(s),organic acid(s) and the like, and any combination thereof. In somefurther embodiments, said one or more preserving agent is present insaid composition in an amount of 10-50,000 ppm or 20-10,000 ppm, such as30-8,000 ppm, e.g. 40-6,000 ppm, for example 50-5,000 ppm, such as60-4,000 ppm, 70-3,000 ppm, for example 80-2,000 ppm, such as 90-1,500ppm, e.g. 100-1,200 ppm, 120-1,000 ppm, such as 140-800 ppm, e.g.160-600 ppm, 180-400 ppm, such as 200-300 ppm, for example 2,200-250 ppm(w/w) in relation to said composition, either including or excludingsaid optional aggregate(s) and/or optional filler(s).

In some embodiments, said one or more anti-foaming agent is selectedfrom the group comprising or consisting of active silicone polymer(s),siloxane polymer(s), organo-modified siloxane(s), non-siliconecompound(s)/composition(s) comprising polypropylene-based polyetherdispersions, fatty acid-type antifoam, non-ionic emulsifier, and anycombination thereof. In some further embodiments, said one or moreanti-foaming agent is present in said composition in an amount of10-50,000 ppm or 20-10,000 ppm, such as 30-8,000 ppm, e.g. 40-6,000 ppm,for example 50-5,000 ppm, such as 60-4,000 ppm, 70-3,000 ppm, forexample 80-2,000 ppm, such as 90-1,500 ppm, e.g. 100-1,200 ppm,120-1,000 ppm, such as 140-800 ppm, e.g. 160-600 ppm, 180-400 ppm, suchas 200-300 ppm, for example 2,200-250 ppm (w/w) in relation to saidcomposition, either including or excluding said optional aggregate(s)and/or optional filler(s).

In some embodiments, said one or more viscosity modifier is selectedfrom the group comprising or consisting of one or more flux oil, such asaromatics, napthenics, parrafinics, or any combination of saidaromatics, napthenics, parrafinics, Fischer-Tropsch waxes, and anycombination thereof. In some further embodiments, said one or moreviscosity modifier is present in said composition in an amount of10-50,000 ppm or 20-10,000 ppm, such as 30-8,000 ppm, e.g. 40-6,000 ppm,for example 50-5,000 ppm, such as 60-4,000 ppm, 70-3,000 ppm, forexample 80-2,000 ppm, such as 90-1,500 ppm, e.g. 100-1,200 ppm,120-1,000 ppm, such as 140-800 ppm, e.g. 160-600 ppm, 180-400 ppm, suchas 200-300 ppm, for example 2,200-250 ppm (w/w) in relation to saidcomposition, either including or excluding said optional aggregate(s)and/or optional filler(s).

In some embodiments, said one or more reactive polymer(s) is selectedfrom the group comprising or consisting of one or more of: randomterpolymer of ethylene, acrylic ester and glycidyl methacrylate, andmaleic anhydride-grafted styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer, and anycombination thereof. In some further embodiments, said one or morereactive polymer is present in said composition in an amount of10-50,000 ppm or 20-10,000 ppm, such as 30-8,000 ppm, e.g. 40-6,000 ppm,for example 50-5,000 ppm, such as 60-4,000 ppm, 70-3,000 ppm, forexample 80-2,000 ppm, such as 90-1,500 ppm, e.g. 100-1,200 ppm,120-1,000 ppm, such as 140-800 ppm, e.g. 160-600 ppm, 180-400 ppm, suchas 200-300 ppm, for example 2,200-250 ppm (w/w) in relation to saidcomposition, either including or excluding said optional aggregate(s)and/or optional filler(s).

In some embodiments, said lignin can be a lignin-rich fraction obtainedor obtainable from a process comprising the steps of (i) pretreatingplant biomass and (ii) enzymatic hydrolysis of at least a fraction ofthe pretreated biomass from step (i), such as a 2^(nd) generationbioethanol production.

In some embodiments, said lignin is a lignin component as disclosed inPCT/DK2015/050242, such as a lignin component disclosed in any one ofclaims 1-157 of said PCT application.

In some claims, said lignin is not lignin from paper and pulpproduction, such as Kraft lignin, wherein said Kraft lignin beingprovided from biomass by a process known in the art as Kraftprocess/method. In some further embodiments, said lignin is not Kraftlignin, lignosulfonate, or soda lignin. In yet some further embodiments,said lignin has not been provided by a Kraft method or another methodcomprising an alkaline treatment, such as by addition of NaOH or anotherbase to provide a pH of around 10 or higher, at or around pH 11 orhigher, or at or around pH 12 or higher.

In some embodiments, said lignin has not been chemically modified, suchas esterified and/or subjected to an esterification step, such asdisclosed in WO2015/094098.

In some embodiments, said lignin has a Lignin Ion Exchange Capacity(LIEC) of 0.4 mol/kg dry matter (DM) or less, 0.3 mol/kg dry matter (DM)or less, such as 0.25 mol/kg DM or less, such as 0.20 mol/kg DM or less,such as 0.15 mol/kg DM or less, or such as 0.10 mol/kg DM or less. Insome further embodiments, said lignin has a LIEC in the range of0.05-0.40, 0.10-0.30, or 0.10-0.20 mol/kg DM. In some furtherembodiments, the Lignin Ion Exchange Capacity is around 0.40, 0.35,0.30, 0.25, 0.20, 0.15, 0.10, mol/kg dry matter or less; in the range of0.10-0.20, 0.20-0.30, 0.30-0.40 mol/kg dry matter; and/or in the rangeof 0.05-0.40, 0.10-0.30, or 0.10-0.20 mol/kg DM. In some furtherembodiments, said lignin is significantly less polar than Kraft lignin,such as assessed by LIEC measurement, such as having a LIEC at least0.10, 0.11, 0.12, 0.13, 0.14, 0.15, 0.16, or 0.17 mol/kg DM lower thanthe LIEC of Kraft lignin. Without wanting to be bound by any theory, itis believed that the lower polarity and/or lower LIEC contribute to thesurprising and unexpected suitability of e.g. 2G lignin forbitumen-related applications according to the present invention.

In some embodiments, said lignin is significantly less hygroscopic, suchas binding at least 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80,85, 90, 95 or 100% (w/w) less water when compared to Kraft lignin. Insome further embodiments, said lignin is swelling significantly lessthan Kraft lignin, such as swelling at least 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50,55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95 or 100% less, and optionally whereinsaid swelling is determined as change in particle size upon suspensionin water or another suitable medium after 60 min. Without wanting to bebound by any theory, it is believed that it can be advantageous in thecontext of the present invention that the lignin is less hygroscopic,and swells less.

In some embodiments, said lignin comprises cellulose in an amount of2,000-300,000 ppm, such as 3,000-180,000 ppm, e.g. 4,000-160,000 ppm,for example 5,000-140,000 ppm, such as 6,000-120,000 ppm, 7,000-100,000ppm, for example 8,000-80,000 ppm, such as 9,000-70,000 ppm, e.g.10,000-60,000 ppm, 12,000-50,000 ppm, such as 14,000-50,000 ppm, e.g.16,000-40,000 ppm, 18,000-30,000 ppm, such as 20,000-28,000 ppm, forexample 22,000-26,000 ppm (w/w).

In some embodiments, said lignin comprises hemicellulose in an amount of2,000-200,000 ppm, such as 3,000-180,000 ppm, e.g. 4,000-160,000 ppm,for example 5,000-140,000 ppm, such as 6,000-120,000 ppm, 7,000-100,000ppm, for example 8,000-80,000 ppm, such as 9,000-70,000 ppm, e.g.10,000-60,000 ppm, 12,000-50,000 ppm, such as 14,000-50,000 ppm, e.g.16,000-40,000 ppm, 18,000-30,000 ppm, such as 20,000-28,000 ppm, forexample 22,000-26,000 ppm (w/w).

In some embodiments, said lignin comprises ash in an amount of2,000-200,000 ppm, such as 3,000-180,000 ppm, e.g. 4,000-160,000 ppm,for example 5,000-140,000 ppm, such as 6,000-120,000 ppm, 7,000-100,000ppm, for example 8,000-80,000 ppm, such as 9,000-70,000 ppm, e.g.10,000-60,000 ppm, 12,000-50,000 ppm, such as 14,000-50,000 ppm, e.g.16,000-40,000 ppm, 18,000-30,000 ppm, such as 20,000-28,000 ppm, forexample 22,000-26,000 ppm (w/w).

In some embodiments, said lignin has a dry matter (dm) of at least 80%(w/w) or more, such as at least 85% (w/w), such as at least 90% (w/w),such as at least 92.5% (w/w), such as at least 95% (w/w), such as atleast 96% (w/w), such as at least 97% (w/w), such as at least 98% (w/w),or such as at least 99% (w/w). In some further embodiments, the drymatter content of said lignin is 1.0-99% (w/w), 10-99% (w/w) or 20-95%(w/w), such as 21-94% (w/w), e.g. 22-93% (w/w), such as 23-92% (w/w),such as 24-91% (w/w), for example 25-90% (w/w), such as 26-89% (w/w),such as 27-88% (w/w), for example 28-87% (w/w), e.g. 29-86% (w/w), suchas 30-85% (w/w), such as 31-84% (w/w), such as 32-83% (w/w), such as33-82% (w/w), for example 34-81% (w/w), such as 35-80% (w/w). For someapplications, a very high dry matter, such as more than 95, 96, 97, 98,or 99% dm (w/w) may seem advantageous.

In some embodiments, said lignin is in the form of pellets, granulate,powder, dried filter cake, or dried decanter cake. In some furtherembodiments, said lignin is having an average grain size of 1-2000 μm,1-1500 μm, 1-1200 μm, 1-1000 μm, 1-800 μm, 1-600 μm, 1-500 μm, 1-450 μm,such as 1.5-430 μm, e.g. 2-420 μm, such as 3-410 μm, for example 4-400μm, e.g. 5-390 μm, such as 6-380 μm, e.g. 7-370 μm, such a 8-360 μm,9-350 μm, for example 10-340 μm, e.g. 12-330 μm, such as 14-320 μm, suchas 16-310 μm, for example 18-300 μm, e.g. 20-290 μm, such as 22-280 μm,e.g. 25-270 μm, such a 30-260 μm, 35-250 μm, for example 40-240 μm, e.g.45-230 μm, such as 50-220 μm, for example 60-210 μm, for example 70-200μm, e.g. 80-190, for example 90-180 μm, e.g. 100-170 μm, such a 110-160μm, 120-150 μm, for example 130-140 μm. In still some furtherembodiments, said average grain or particle size is determined before orafter providing said bitumen composition, and optionally, wherein saidgrain or particle size being measured by laser diffraction spectroscopy,or e.g. by a Malvern Mastersizer.

In some embodiments, said lignin is having an average molecular weight(Da) of 1,000 or above, 1,500 or above, 2,000 or above, 2,500 or above,3,000 or above, such as 3,500 or above, e.g. 4,000 or above, such as5,000 or above, for example 5,500 or above, such as 6,000 or above, e.g.7,000 or above, for example 8,000 or above, such as 9,000 or above, forexample 10,000 or above, such as 12,000 or above, e.g. 14,000 or above,for example 16,000 or above, e.g. 18,000 or above, e.g. 20,000 or above,such as 25,000 or above, e.g. 30,000 or above, such as 35,000 or above,for example 40,000 or above, such as 45,000 or above, e.g. 50,000 orabove, such as 55,000 or above, e.g. 60,000 or above, such as 65,000 orabove, e.g. 70,000 or above, such as 75,000 or above, for example 80,000or above, such as 85,000 or above, e.g. 90,000 or above, such as 95,000or above, or 100,000 or above.

In some embodiments, said lignin originates from a lignocellulosicbiomass obtained from an annual or a perennial plant. In some furtherembodiments, said lignin originates from a lignocellulosic biomassobtained, obtainable or derived from the group comprising or consistingof one or more of: cereal, wheat, wheat straw, rice, rice straw, corn,corn fiber, corn cobs, corn stover, hardwood bulk, softwood bulk, sugarcane, sweat sorghum, bagasse, nut shells, empty fruit bunches, grass,cotton seed hairs, barley, rye, oats, sorghum, brewer's spent grains,palm waste material, wood, soft lignocellulosic biomass, hardlignocellulosic biomass, and any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, said lignin comprises one or more impuritiesoriginating from its mode of production, such as enzyme residues, yeastresidues, foam depressant(s), clean in place (CIP) compounds, salts andthe like. In some further embodiments, said lignin comprisesimpurity/impurities originating from compounds native for thelignocellulosic material, such as cellulose residues, hemicelluloseresidues, monomeric sugar compounds, dimeric sugar compounds, oligomericsugar compounds, carbohydrate residues, wax residues, minerals, ash,silica (SiO2), silica comprising compositions, salts, organic acids, andthe like, and any combination thereof. In some further embodiments, thepurity of said lignin is 40% (w/w) or more, such as 42% (w/w) or more,for example 44% (w/w) or more, such as 46% (w/w) or more, e.g. 48% (w/w)or more, such as 50% (w/w) or more, such as 52% (w/w) or more, forexample 54% (w/w) or more, such as 56% (w/w) or more, e.g. 58% (w/w) ormore, such as 60% (w/w) or more, such as 62% (w/w) or more, for example64% (w/w) or more, such as 66% (w/w) or more, e.g. 68% (w/w) or more,such as 70% (w/w) or more, such as 72% (w/w) or more, for example 74%(w/w) or more, such as 76% (w/w) or more, e.g. 78% (w/w) or more, suchas 80% (w/w) or more. In yet some further embodiments, the purity ofsaid lignin is 30-80, 40-75, 45-72, or 50-60% (w/w), and/or around 40,45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, or 80% (w/w). In some embodiments, saidpurity is determined based on content of Klason lignin or acid insolublelignin. In yet some further embodiments, the corresponding percentageconstituting impurities may be any one or more impurity as definedabove.

In some embodiments, said lignin originates from a lignocellulosicbiomass having been subjected to a hydrothermal pretreatment followed bya hydrolysis of at least part of the cellulose and at least part of thehemicellulose present in said lignocellulosic biomass. In some furtherembodiments, said lignin originates from a lignocellulosic biomasshaving been subject to a hydrothermal pretreatment followed by ahydrolysis of at least part of the cellulose and at least part of thehemicellulose present in said lignocellulosic biomass; and optionallyfollowed by a fermentation, such as an alcohol fermentation. In yet someembodiments, said hydrolysis is an acid catalyzed hydrolysis, anenzymatic hydrolysis or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, said lignin is obtained by pressing a fibrousfraction obtained after subjecting said lignocellulosic biomass to saidhydrothermal pretreatment followed by said hydrolysis. In some furtherembodiments, said pressing of said fibrous fraction is preceded byrinsing and/or washing of said fibrous fraction. In yet someembodiments, said lignin is obtained by mechanically comminuting saidpressed fibrous fraction to a desired extent, such as to around or atleast 20, 25, 30, 35 or 40% dm (w/w).

In some embodiments, said lignin is obtained from soft lignocellulosicbiomass, such as a biomass used or suitable for 2^(nd) generationbioethanol production, digestate or waste and optionally from a processcomprising essentially no addition of acid or base during pretreatment.

In some embodiments, said composition is foaming at least 25, 20, 15, or10% less under mixing when compared to a comparable compositioncomprising soda lignin, Kraft lignin, such as Indulin AT, organosolvlignin, or pure lignin instead. “Pure lignin” can e.g. be lignin with aKlason lignin content of e.g. more than 80, 90, 95% (w/w), or organosollignin.

In some embodiments, said composition is requiring significantly lessanti-foaming agent, such as at least 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, or90% less anti-foaming agent, or no anti-foaming agent, when compared toa comparable composition comprising soda lignin, Kraft lignin, such asIndulin AT, organosolv lignin, or pure lignin instead, while stillproviding comparable foaming characteristics during mixing.

In some embodiments, said composition requires significantly lessplasticity modifying agent, such as at least 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70,80, or 90% less anti-foam plasticity modifying agent, when compared to acomparable composition comprising soda lignin, Kraft lignin, such asIndulin AT, organosolv lignin, or pure lignin instead, while stillproviding comparable characteristics such as one or more qualityparameters, such as e.g. one or more of: penetration, softening point,rheology, cohesion, adhesion and durability, e.g. as disclosed in SHB#6,Chapter 5, in particular Chapters 5.5.1-5.5.4.

In some embodiments, said composition comprises significantly morenon-bitumen derived carbon, such as at least 10, 20, 30, 40, 50% or morenon-bitumen derived carbon when compared to a comparable compositioncomprising soda lignin, Kraft lignin, such as Indulin AT, organosolvlignin, or pure lignin instead, while still providing comparablecharacteristics such as one or more quality parameters, such as e.g. oneor more of: penetration, softening point, rheology, cohesion, adhesionand durability, e.g. as disclosed in SHB#6, Chapter 5, in particularChapters 5.5.1-5.5.4.

In some embodiments, said composition shows one or more of: (i) asignificant reduction in oxidation, e.g. under mixing and/or exposure ofa surface to air and/or oxygen; (ii) a significant increase in UVresistance, and/or (iii) a significant increase longevity, wherein saidsignificant reduction or increase is at least in the order of 10, 20,30, 40 or 50%, when compared to a comparable composition comprising sodalignin, Kraft lignin, such as Indulin AT, organosolv lignin, or purelignin instead.

For the avoidance of doubt, in the context of the present invention, theterm “comparable composition” is meant to comprise a composition, suchas a reference composition, comprising e.g. a different kind of lignin(e.g. Kraft lignin, Indulin AT, soda lignin, pure lignin or organosolvlignin) instead of the lignin composition according to the first aspectof the invention. Such a reference composition would e.g. contain orcomprise the same amount lignin per weight as the composition it iscompared to, and preferably having comparable dry matter content, e.g.being dried using the same method and equipment(s), and being processedand mixed in a similar manner, if applicable. Obviously, the differentlignins used may comprise different percentages of impurities, which areusually ignored; thus, the compositions to be compared may comprisedifferent percentages of e.g. Klason lignin.

In a third aspect, the present invention relates to the use of acomposition according to the first, fourth or ninth aspect in one ormore of: sealing work, road work, paving work, providing a surfacelayer, providing a sealing layer, providing a road and providing apavement, providing a top layer of a road. Such uses may compriseapplications relating to (i) agriculture, (ii) buildings and industrialpaving, (iii) hydraulics and erosion control, (iv) industrial, (v)paving, (vi) railways, and (vii) recreation.

In some embodiments, said use comprises applications relating to (i)agriculture, (ii) buildings and industrial paving, (iii) hydraulics anderosion control, (iv) industrial, (v) paving, (vi) railways, and (vii)recreation, such as ad (i) disinfectants, fence post coating, mulches,mulching paper, paved barn floors, barnyards, feed platforms, protectingtanks, vats, protection for concrete structures, tree paints(protective); ad (ii): water and moisture barriers (above and belowground), floor compositions, tiles, coverings, insulating fabrics,papers, step treads, building papers, caulking compounds, cementwaterproofing compounds, glass wool compositions, insulating fabrics,felts, papers, joint filler compounds, laminated roofing shingles,liquid roof coatings, plastic cements, shingles, acoustical blocks,compositions, felts, bricks, damp-proofing coatings, compositions,insulating board, fabrics, felts, paper, masonry coatings,plasterboards, putty, soundproofing, stucco base, wallboard, air-dryingpaints, varnishes, artificial timber, ebonised timber, insulatingpaints, plumbing, pipes, treated awnings, canal linings, sealants; ad(iii): catchment areas, basins, dam groutings, dam linings, protection,dyke protection, ditch linings, drainage gutters, structures, embankmentprotection, groynes, jetties, levee protection, mattresses for levee andbank protection, membrane linings, waterproofing, reservoir linings,revetments, sand dune stabilisation, sewage lagoons, oxidation ponds,swimming pools, waste ponds, water barriers, backed felts, ad (iv):conduit insulation, lamination, insulating boards, paint compositions,papers, pipe wrapping, insulating felts, panel boards, underseal,battery boxes, carbons, electrical insulating compounds, papers, tapes,wire coatings, junction box compound, moulded conduits, black grease,buffing compounds, cable splicing compound, embalming, etchingcompositions, extenders, explosives, lap cement, plasticisers,preservatives, printing inks, well drilling fluid, armoured bituminisedfabrics, burlap impregnation, mildew prevention, sawdust, cork, asphaltcomposition, acid-proof enamels, mastics, varnishes, acid-resistantcoatings, air-drying paints, varnishes, anti-corrosive and anti-foulingpaints, anti-oxidants and solvents, base for solvent compositions,baking and heat-resistant enamels, boat deck sealing compound, lacquers,japans, marine enamels, blasting fuses, briquette binders, burialvaults, casting moulds, clay articles, clay pigeons, expansion joints,flowerpots, foundry cores, friction tape, gaskets, mirror backing,rubber, moulded compositions, shoe fillers, soles; ad (v): airportrunways, taxiways, aprons, asphalt blocks, brick fillers, bridge deck,surfacing, crack fillers, floors for buildings, warehouses, garages,highways, roads, streets, shoulders, kerbs, gutters, drainage ditches,parking lots, driveways, Portland cement concrete underseal, roof-deckparking, pavements, footpaths, soil stabilisation; ad (vi) ballasttreatment, dust laying, paved ballast, sub-ballast, paved crossings,freight yards, station platforms; and ad (vii) dance pavilions, drive-inmovies, gymnasiums, sport arenas, playgrounds, school yards, racetracks, running tracks, skating rinks, swimming and wading pools, tenniscourts, handball courts, synthetic playing fields and running tracksurfaces.

In a fourth aspect, the present invention concerns a sealing layercomprising a composition according to the first or second aspect of theinvention. Such a sealing layer may be comprised in e.g. a roof, dam,pool, pond, lake, roof, bridge, tunnel, road, or the like.

In some embodiments, said sealing layer may comprise e.g. 5-15, or 7-10%bitumen. Such layers may require heating e.g. mastic asphalt to atemperature of 210° C., which is spread in one or more layers to form animpervious barrier of e.g. 20 mm.

In a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to an asphaltcomposition comprising a composition according to the first or ninthaspect of the invention. Such asphalt compositions comprise mineralaggregates and/or fillers, and may comprise mastic asphalt or rolledasphalt.

In some embodiments, the present invention concerns a road and/orpavement comprising a composition according to the first, second orfifth aspect. Such roads usually comprise a surface layer and optionallyone or more further layers, such as a binder layer, a base layer, and/ora sub base layer. Any of said layers may comprise a compositionaccording to the first, fourth or ninth aspect of the invention.

In some embodiments, said road and/or pavement comprises a surface layerand optionally one or more further layers. In some further embodiments,said one or more further layer is a binder layer, a base layer, and/or asub base layer. In yet a further embodiment, said surface layercomprises a composition according to the first, second, fourth or fifthaspect. In still a further embodiment, said one or more further layercomprises a composition according to the first, fourth or ninth aspect.

In some embodiments, the present invention concerns construction workcomprising the provision and/or use of a composition according to thefirst, second, fourth or fifth aspect of the invention, as well as usesaccording to the third aspect of the invention.

In some embodiments, said construction work is road work and/or sealingwork.

In other embodiments, the present invention pertains to a process forproviding a composition according to the first, second, fourth or fifthaspect of the invention, said process comprising the steps of mixingsaid bitumen, said one or more plasticity modifying agent(s), saidlignin, and said optionally one or more further component(s). Saidmixing may at least in part be conducted at a temperature between 140and 220, 160-200, or 170-180° C.

In an sixth aspect, the present invention concerns a process forobtaining a bitumen composition, said process comprising:

-   a) subjecting said lignocellulosic biomass for hydrothermal    pretreatment resulting in a hydrothermally pretreated    lignocellulosic biomass; followed by-   b) subjecting at least part of said hydrothermally pretreated    lignocellulosic biomass obtained in step (a) to a hydrolysis    resulting in a liquid fraction comprising soluble carbohydrates, and    a fiber fraction comprising a lignin component, wherein said    hydrolysis is an acid catalyzed hydrolysis and/or enzymatic    hydrolysis; followed by-   c) optionally subjecting at least part of the liquid fraction    obtained in step (b) to a fermentation in order to ferment at least    part of said soluble carbohydrates to a fermentation product, such    as ethanol, methane or butanol, thereby obtaining a fermentation    broth;-   d) optionally isolating at least part of said fermentation product    from the fermentation broth obtained in step (c) e.g. by    distillation;-   e) isolating at least part of the lignin from one or more of: the    fiber fraction obtained in step (b); the fermentation broth obtained    in step (c); or after isolation of at least a part of the    fermentation product in step (d);-   f) converting at least part of the lignin component obtained in    step (e) to a bitumen composition by admixing said lignin component    with bitumen and a plasticity modifying agent(s).

In one embodiment the bitumen composition obtained in step f) is acomposition according to any one of the previous aspects. In oneembodiment, the present invention concerns a process for obtaining abitumen composition, said process comprising:

-   -   a) subjecting lignocellulosic biomass to hydrothermal        pretreatment at a pH within the range of 3.5 to 9.0, at a        temperature between 150 and 260° C., preferably 150-200° C., for        a residence time of less than 60 minutes resulting in a        hydrothermally pretreated lignocellulosic biomass; followed by    -   b) subjecting at least part of said hydrothermally pretreated        lignocellulosic biomass obtained in step (a) to a hydrolysis        resulting at a temperature between 30 and 72° C. for period        between 24 and 150 hours in a liquid fraction comprising soluble        carbohydrates, and a fiber fraction comprising a lignin        component, wherein said hydrolysis is an acid catalyzed        hydrolysis and/or enzymatic hydrolysis; followed by    -   c) optionally subjecting at least part of the liquid fraction        obtained in step (b) to a fermentation in order to ferment at        least part of said soluble carbohydrates to a fermentation        product, such as ethanol, methane or butanol, thereby obtaining        a fermentation broth.

In some embodiments, said at least part of said lignin fraction isisolated from the fiber fraction obtained in step (b).

In some embodiments, said at least part of said lignin fraction isisolated from said fermentation broth obtained in step (c).

In some embodiments, said hydrothermal pretreatment of saidlignocellulosic biomass is performed at a temperature of 150-260° C.,such as 160-250° C., 150-200° C., or e.g. 170-240° C., such as 180-230°C., for example 190-220° C., such as 200-210° C. In a preferredembodiment, the hydrothermal pretreatment is performed at a temperatureof 150-220° C., preferably 150-200° C., more preferred 175-200° C., mostpreferred 180-200° C.

In some embodiments, said hydrothermal pretreatment of saidlignocellulosic biomass is performed in a period of residence time of2-120 minutes (min.), such as 5-110 min., e.g. 10-100 min., for example15-90 min., such as 20-80 min., such as 25-70 min., e.g. 30-60 min, suchas 35-50 min, such as 40-45 min. In a preferred embodiment, saidhydrothermal pretreatment of said lignocellulosic biomass is performedin a period of residence time of 10-60 min., preferably 10-45 min., morepreferred 10-30 min., most preferred 15-25 minutes.

In some embodiments, soaking/wetting with an aqueous solution can serveto adjust pH prior to pretreatment to the range of between 3.5 and 9.0,which is typically advantageous for autohydrolysis. It will be readilyunderstood that pH may change during pretreatment, typically to moreacidic levels as acetic acid is liberated from solubilizedhemicellulose. Further suitable pH values may be disclosed elsewhereherein.

Suitable hydrothermal pretreatment reactors typically include mostpulping reactors known from the pulp and paper industry. In someembodiments, hydrothermal pretreatment is administered by steam within areactor pressurized to 10 bar or lower, or to 12 bar or lower, or to 4bar or higher, or 8 bar or higher, or between 8 and 18 bar, or between18 and 20 bar. In some embodiments, the pretreatment reactor isconfigured for a continuous inflow of feedstock.

In some embodiments, said hydrothermal pretreatment of saidlignocellulosic biomass is performed by subjecting said lignocellulosicbiomass to a log severity, log(Ro) of 2.5 or more, such as a log(Ro) of2.6 or more, e.g. a log(Ro) of 2.7 or more, such as a log(Ro) of 2.8 ormore, for example a log(Ro) of 2.9 or more, such as a log(Ro) of 3.0 ormore, such as a log(Ro) of 3.1 or more, for example a log(Ro) of 3.2 ormore, e.g. a log(Ro) of 3.3 or more, such as a log(Ro) of 3.4 or more,such as a log(Ro) of 3.5 or more; such as a log(Ro) of 3.6 or more; forexample such as a log(Ro) of 3.7 or more, e.g. a log(Ro) of 3.8 or more,for example a log(Ro) of 3.9 or more, for example a log(Ro) of 4.0 ormore, such as a log(Ro) of 4.1 or more, or a log(Ro) of 4.2 or more;wherein the log severity is defined as: log(Ro)=(residencetime)×(exp[Temperature−100/14.75]). In some further embodiments, saidhydrothermal pretreatment of said lignocellulosic biomass results in axylan number of: 5% or more, 6% or more, 7% or more, 8% or more, 9% ormore, 10% or more. The xylan number may be in the range of 5-20%, 5-15%,5-12.5%, 5-10%. In an alternative, the xylan number may be in the rangeof 8-20, 8-15 or 8-12.5%.

In some embodiments, said hydrolysis comprises the action of one or morecellulase(s). In some further embodiments, said one or more cellulasesare selected from the group comprising exo-glucanases, endo-glucanases,hemi-cellulases and beta-glucosidases.

In some embodiments, said hydrolysis is performed for a period of timeof 1-200 hours, such as 5-190 hours, such as 10-185 hours, e.g. 15-180hours, for example 20-175 hours, such as 25-170 hours, such as 30-165hours, e.g. 35-160 hours, for example 40-155 hours, such as 45-150hours, such as 50-145 hours, e.g. 55-140 hours, for example 60-135hours, such as 65-130 hours, such as 70-125 hours, e.g. 75-120 hours,for example 80-115 hours, such as 85-110 hours, such as 90-105 hours,e.g. 95-100 hours.

In some embodiments, said step (b) and step (c) are performed as aseparate hydrolysis and fermentation step (SHF), and wherein saidhydrolysis is performed at a temperature of 30-72° C., such as 32-70°C., e.g. 34-68° C., for example 36-66° C., such as 38-64° C., e.g.40-62° C., 42-60° C., e.g. 44-58° C., for example 46-56° C., such as48-54° C., e.g. 50-52° C.

In some embodiments, said hydrolysis is performed in a period of time of70-125 hours, e.g. 75-120 hours, for example 80-115 hours, such as85-110 hours, such as 90-105 hours, e.g. 95-100 hours.

In some embodiments, said step (b) and step (c) are performed as asimultaneous saccharification and fermentation step (SSF), and whereinsaid hydrolysis is performed at a temperature of 30-72° C., such as32-70° C., e.g. 34-68° C., for example 36-66° C., such as 38-64° C.,e.g. 40-62° C., 42-60° C., e.g. 44-58° C., for example 46-56° C., suchas 48-54° C., e.g. 50-52° C.

In some embodiments, said hydrolysis is performed in a period of time of1-12 hours, such as 2-11 hours, for example 3-10 hours, such as 4-9hours, e.g. 5-8 hours, such as 6-7 hours.

In some embodiments, said step (b) and step (c) are performed as asimultaneous saccharification and fermentation step (SSF), and whereinsaid fermentation is performed at a temperature of 25-40° C., such as26-39° C., e.g. 27-38° C., for example 28-37° C., e.g. 29-36° C., forexample 30-35° C., such as 31-34° C. or 32-33° C.

In some embodiments, said fermentation is performed in a period of timeof 100-200 hours, such as 105-190 hours, such as 110-185 hours, e.g.115-180 hours, for example 120-175 hours, such as 125-170 hours, such as130-165 hours, e.g. 135-160 hours, for example 140-155 hours, such as145-150 hours.

In some embodiments, said process for treatment of a lignocellulosicbiomass comprises a “C5 bypass”, i.e. comprises a solid/liquidseparation step before step (b), wherein the liquid fraction is notsubjected to said hydrolysis in step (b).

In some embodiments, said process comprises a two (or more) steptreatment, and optionally, wherein a liquid fraction is collected aftera first pretreatment step, e.g. by pressing.

In some embodiments, said process is conducted as “whole slurry”process, i.e. wherein the pretreated biomass is subjected directly in asubsequent hydrolysis step, such as an enzymatic hydrolysis and/orfermentation.

In some embodiments, said lignin is obtained from soft lignocellulosicbiomass, such as a biomass used or suitable for 2^(nd) generationbioethanol production, digestate or waste, and optionally from a processcomprising essentially no addition of acid or base during pretreatment.

The present invention is further described by the following numberedembodiments:

-   1. A composition comprising bitumen, one or more plasticity    modifying agent(s), lignin, and optionally one or more further    component(s); wherein said lignin has a Lignin Ion Exchange Capacity    (LIEC) of 0.4 mol/kg dry matter (DM) or less and/or wherein the    phenolic OH (phOH) content is less than 2 mmol/g.-   2. A composition according to embodiment 1, wherein the bitumen is    straight run bitumen, hard bitumen, oxidised bitumen, cut-back    bitumen or fluxed bitumen.-   3. A composition according to embodiment 1 or 2, said further    component(s) being one or more aggregate(s) and/or filler(s), such    as natural, manufactured, recycled aggregates, including any    combination thereof.-   4. A composition according to embodiment 3, said aggregate being one    or more of coarse aggregate, fine aggregate, all-in aggregate, and    filler aggregate.-   5. A composition according to embodiment 3 or 4, wherein the    aggregate or filler comprises igneous, sedimentary, and/or    metamorphic rock, such as Granite, Syenite, Granodiorite, Diorite,    Gabbro, Dolerite, Diabase, Rhyolite, Trachyte, Andesite, Dacite,    Basalt; Sandstone, Gritstone, Conglomerate, Breccia, Arkose,    Greywacke, Quartzite (ortho), Shale, Siltstone, Limestone, Chalk,    Dolomite, Chert, Flint, and Amphibolites, Gneiss, Granulite,    Hornfels, Marble, Quartzite (meta), Serpentinite, Schist, Slate;    including any combination thereof.-   6. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    said further component(s) being one or more active component.-   7. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments    comprising or consisting of:    -   a. 1-99.89% (w/w) bitumen;    -   b. 0.01-20% (w/w) plasticity modifying agent(s);    -   c. 0.1-50% (w/w) lignin; and    -   d. 0-95% (w/w) further component(s).-   8. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments    comprising    -   a. 25-99.89% (w/w) bitumen;    -   b. 0.01-20% (w/w) plasticity modifying agent(s); and    -   c. 0.1-50% (w/w) lignin;    -   wherein the w/w of (a), (b) and/or (c) is calculated as weight        per total weight of the sum of bitumen (a), plasticity modifying        agents (b) and lignin (c).-   9. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments    comprising 25-99.89, 60-94, or 74-86% (w/w) bitumen.-   10. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments    comprising 0.01-20, 1-10, or 4-6% (w/w) plasticity modifying    agent(s).-   11. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments    comprising; 0.1-50, 5-30, or 10-20% (w/w) lignin.-   12. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    comprising 0-99% (w/w) further component(s).-   13. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    comprising 0-20, 0.1-15, 1-10, or 2-5% (w/w) active component.-   14. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    comprising 0-99, or 0-98, 0-97, 0-96, 0-95, 0-94, 0-93, 0-92, 0-91,    0-90, 80-98, 85-97, 90-95% (w/w) aggregate and/or filler.-   15. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    said composition being suitable for road construction, sealing work    or the like.-   16. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said (i) bitumen; (ii) the bitumen and the plasticity    modifying agent (i.e. the polymer-modified bitumen (PMB); (iii) the    bitumen comprising lignin; the PMB and lignin; or said composition    has one or more characteristics as specified in EN 12591, EN 13924,    EN 14023, IS 73:2006, ASTM D946-09, ASTM D3381-09 and M 226-80, EN    12591:2009a (BSI, 2009a), EN 13924:2006 (BSI, 2006), EN 14023:2010    (BSI, 2010a), EN 13304:2009 (BSI, 2009b), EN 13305:2009 (BSI,    2009c), EN 15322:201 3 (BSI, 2013), EN 14023:2010 (BSI, 2010a), EN    14771:2012 (BSI, 2012a), EN 14770:2012 (BSI, 2012b), EN 13589:2008    (BSI, 2008), EN 13703:2003 (BSI, 2003), EN 13587:2010 (BSI, 2010b),    or EN 13398:2010 (BSI, 2010c).-   17. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said bitumen, PMB, bitumen comprising lignin, the PMB    comprising lignin, or said composition is of grade 20/30, 30/45,    35/50, 40/60, 50/70, 70/100, 100/150, 160/220, 250/330, or 330/430.-   18. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said one or more plasticity modifying agent is one or more    plastomer, one or more thermoplastic elastomer, one or more rubber,    one or more viscosity modifier, and/or one or more reactive polymer,    including any combination thereof.-   19. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said plastomers is e.g. one or more of ethylene-vinyl    acetate (EVA), ethylene-methyl acrylate (EMA), ethylene-butyl    acrylate (EBA), atactic polypropylene (APP), polyethylene (PE),    polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polystyrene (PS).-   20. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said one or more plastomer is selected from one or more of:    EVA, EMA, EBA, APP, PE, PP, PVC, and PS, including any combination    thereof.-   21. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said thermoplastic elastomers is e.g. one or more of    butadiene elastomer (SBE), linear or radial    styrene-butadiene-styrene elastomer (SBS), styrene-butadiene rubber    (SBR), styrene-isoprene-styrene elastomer (SIS),    styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene elastomer (SEBS),    ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM), isobutene-isoprene    random copolymer (IIR), polyisobutene (PIB), polybutadiene (PBD),    polyisoprene (PI).-   22. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said one or more thermoplastic elastomers is selected from    one or more of: SBE, SBS; SBR, SIS, EBS, EPDM, IIR, PIB, PBD, and    PI, including any combination thereof.-   23. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said rubber is a natural rubber, such as latex, or a    synthetic rubber, such as recycled tire rubber or recycled crumb    rubber.-   24. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said viscosity modifier is one or more flux oil (aromatics,    napthenics, parrafinics), or Fischer-Tropsch waxes, including any    combination thereof.-   25. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said reactive polymer is one or more random terpolymer of    ethylene, acrylic ester and glycidyl methacrylate, or maleic    anhydride-grafted styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer, including any    combination thereof.-   26. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said active component is selected from the group comprising    or consisting of one or more dispersing agent(s), surfactant(s),    hydrotropic agent(s), emulsifier(s), preserving agent(s),    anti-foaming agent (s), viscosity modifier(s), reactive polymer(s)    and any combination thereof.-   27. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said one or more further component or active component is    present in the range of 0.001% to 5% (w/w).-   28. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein the bitumen, the one or more plasticity modifying agent(s),    the lignin, and the optional one or more further component and/or    active agent are in a state of being intermixed.-   29. A composition according to embodiment 28, wherein the state of    being intermixed is selected from the group comprising or consisting    of being intermixed as a solution; being intermixed as a suspension;    being intermixed as an emulsion; being intermixed as a dispersion;    being intermixed as a slurry; and any combination thereof.-   30. A composition according to any one of embodiments 26 to 29,    wherein said one or more dispersing agent is selected from the group    comprising or consisting of non-ionic, anionic, cationic and    amphoteric dispersing agent(s) and any combination and/or compatible    mixture thereof.-   31. A composition according to any one of embodiments 26 to 30,    wherein said one or more dispersing agent is present in said    composition in an amount of 10-50,000 ppm or 200-20,000 ppm, such as    300-18,000 ppm, e.g. 400-16,000 ppm, for example 500-14,000 ppm,    such as 600-12,000 ppm, 700-10,000 ppm, for example 800-8,000 ppm,    such as 900-7,000 ppm, e.g. 1,000-6,000 ppm, 1,200-5,000 ppm, such    as 1,400-5,000 ppm, e.g. 1,600-4,000 ppm, 1,800-3,000 ppm, such as    2,000-2,800 ppm, for example 2,200-2,600 ppm (w/w) in relation to    said composition, either including or excluding said optional    aggregate(s) and/or optional filler(s).-   32. A composition according to any one of embodiments 26 to 31,    wherein said one or more surfactant is selected from the group    comprising or consisting of anionic, cationic, zwitterionic and    nonionic surfactants, and any combination and/or compatible mixture    thereof.-   33. A composition according to any one of embodiments 26 to 32,    wherein said one or more surfactant is present in said composition    in an amount of 10-50,000 ppm or 200-20,000 ppm, such as 300-18,000    ppm, e.g. 400-16,000 ppm, for example 500-14,000 ppm, such as    600-12,000 ppm, 700-10,000 ppm, for example 800-8,000 ppm, such as    900-7,000 ppm, e.g. 1,000-6,000 ppm, 1,200-5,000 ppm, such as    1,400-5,000 ppm, e.g. 1,600-4,000 ppm, 1,800-3,000 ppm, such as    2,000-2,800 ppm, for example 2,200-2,600 ppm (w/w) in relation to    said composition, either including or excluding said optional    aggregate(s) and/or optional filler(s).-   34. A composition according to any one of embodiments 26 to 33,    wherein said one or more hydrotropic agent is selected from the    group comprising or consisting of: non-ionic, anionic, cationic and    amphoteric hydrotropes and any combination and/or compatible    mixtures thereof.-   35. A composition according to any one of embodiments 26 to 34,    wherein said one or more hydrotropic agent is present in said    composition in an amount of 10-50,000 ppm or 200-40,000 ppm, such as    300-30,000 ppm, e.g. 400-20,000 ppm, for example 500-15,000 ppm,    such as 600-12,000 ppm, 700-10,000 ppm, for example 800-8,000 ppm,    such as 900-7,000 ppm, e.g. 1,000-6,000 ppm, 1,200-5,000 ppm, such    as 1,400-5,000 ppm, e.g. 1,600-4,000 ppm, 1,800-3,000 ppm, such as    2,000-2,800 ppm, for example 2,200-2,600 ppm (w/w) in relation to    said composition, either including or excluding said optional    aggregate(s) and/or optional filler(s).-   36. A composition according to any one of embodiments 26 to 35,    wherein said one or more emulsifier is selected from the group    comprising or consisting of sodium phosphate(s), sodium stearoyl    lactylate cationic, lecithin, DATEM (diacetyl tartaric acid ester of    monoglyceride), and any combination and/or compatible mixture    thereof.-   37. A composition according to any one of embodiments 26 to 36,    wherein said one or more emulsifier is present in said composition    in an amount of 10-50,000 ppm or 200-20,000 ppm, such as 300-18,000    ppm, e.g. 400-16,000 ppm, for example 500-14,000 ppm, such as    600-12,000 ppm, 700-10,000 ppm, for example 800-8,000 ppm, such as    900-7,000 ppm, e.g. 1,000-6,000 ppm, 1,200-5,000 ppm, such as    1,400-5,000 ppm, e.g. 1,600-4,000 ppm, 1,800-3,000 ppm, such as    2,000-2,800 ppm, for example 2,200-2,600 ppm (w/w) in relation to    said composition, either including or excluding said optional    aggregate(s) and/or optional filler(s).-   38. A composition according to any one of embodiments 26 to 37,    wherein said one or more preserving agent is selected from the group    comprising or consisting of one or more carboxylate, benzoate,    benzoic acid derivative such as parabene(s), aldehyde(s),    thiazine(s), organic acid(s) and the like, and any combination    thereof.-   39. A composition according to any one of embodiments 26 to 38,    wherein said one or more preserving agent is present in said    composition in an amount of 10-50,000 ppm or 20-10,000 ppm, such as    30-8,000 ppm, e.g. 40-6,000 ppm, for example 50-5,000 ppm, such as    60-4,000 ppm, 70-3,000 ppm, for example 80-2,000 ppm, such as    90-1,500 ppm, e.g. 100-1,200 ppm, 120-1,000 ppm, such as 140-800    ppm, e.g. 160-600 ppm, 180-400 ppm, such as 200-300 ppm, for example    2,200-250 ppm (w/w) in relation to said composition, either    including or excluding said optional aggregate(s) and/or optional    filler(s).-   40. A composition according to any one of embodiments 26 to 39,    wherein said one or more anti-foaming agent is selected from the    group comprising or consisting of active silicone polymer(s),    siloxane polymer(s), organo-modified siloxane(s), non-silicone    compound(s)/composition(s) comprising polypropylene-based polyether    dispersions, fatty acid-type antifoam, non-ionic emulsifier, and any    combination thereof.-   41. A composition according to any one of embodiments 26 to 40,    wherein said one or more anti-foaming agent is present in said    composition in an amount of 10-50,000 ppm or 20-10,000 ppm, such as    30-8,000 ppm, e.g. 40-6,000 ppm, for example 50-5,000 ppm, such as    60-4,000 ppm, 70-3,000 ppm, for example 80-2,000 ppm, such as    90-1,500 ppm, e.g. 100-1,200 ppm, 120-1,000 ppm, such as 140-800    ppm, e.g. 160-600 ppm, 180-400 ppm, such as 200-300 ppm, for example    2,200-250 ppm (w/w) in relation to said composition, either    including or excluding said optional aggregate(s) and/or optional    filler(s).-   42. A composition according to any one of embodiments 26 to 41,    wherein said one or more viscosity modifier is selected from the    group comprising or consisting of one or more flux oil, such as    aromatics, napthenics, parrafinics, or any combination of said    aromatics, napthenics, parrafinics, Fischer-Tropsch waxes, and any    combination thereof.-   43. A composition according to any one of embodiments 26 to 42,    wherein said one or more viscosity modifier is present in said    composition in an amount of 10-50,000 ppm or 20-10,000 ppm, such as    30-8,000 ppm, e.g. 40-6,000 ppm, for example 50-5,000 ppm, such as    60-4,000 ppm, 70-3,000 ppm, for example 80-2,000 ppm, such as    90-1,500 ppm, e.g. 100-1,200 ppm, 120-1,000 ppm, such as 140-800    ppm, e.g. 160-600 ppm, 180-400 ppm, such as 200-300 ppm, for example    2,200-250 ppm (w/w) in relation to said composition, either    including or excluding said optional aggregate(s) and/or optional    filler(s).-   44. A composition according to any one of embodiments 26 to 43,    wherein said one or more reactive polymer(s) is selected from the    group comprising or consisting of one or more of: random terpolymer    of ethylene, acrylic ester and glycidyl methacrylate, and maleic    anhydride-grafted styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer, and any    combination thereof.-   45. A composition according to any one of embodiments 26 to 44,    wherein said one or more reactive polymer is present in said    composition in an amount of 10-50,000 ppm or 20-10,000 ppm, such as    30-8,000 ppm, e.g. 40-6,000 ppm, for example 50-5,000 ppm, such as    60-4,000 ppm, 70-3,000 ppm, for example 80-2,000 ppm, such as    90-1,500 ppm, e.g. 100-1,200 ppm, 120-1,000 ppm, such as 140-800    ppm, e.g. 160-600 ppm, 180-400 ppm, such as 200-300 ppm, for example    2,200-250 ppm (w/w) in relation to said composition, either    including or excluding said optional aggregate(s) and/or optional    filler(s).-   46. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    said lignin being a lignin-rich fraction obtained or obtainable from    a process comprising the steps of (i) pretreating plant biomass    and (ii) enzymatic hydrolysis of at least a fraction of the    pretreated biomass from step (i), such as a 2^(nd) generation    bioethanol production.-   47. A composition according any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said lignin is not lignin from paper and pulp production,    such as Kraft lignin, wherein said Kraft lignin being provided from    biomass by a process known in the art as Kraft process/method.-   48. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said lignin is not Kraft lignin, lignosulfonate, or soda    lignin.-   49. A composition according any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said lignin has not been provided by a Kraft method or    another method comprising an alkaline treatment, such as by addition    of NaOH or another base to provide a pH of around 10 or higher, at    or around pH 11 or higher, or at or around pH 12 or higher.-   50. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said lignin has not been esterified and/or subjected to an    esterification step, such as disclosed in WO2015/094098.-   51. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said lignin has a Lignin Ion Exchange Capacity (LIEC) of 0.4    mol/kg dry matter (DM) or less, 0.3 mol/kg dry matter (DM) or less,    such as 0.25 mol/kg DM or less, such as 0.20 mol/kg DM or less, such    as 0.15 mol/kg DM or less, or such as 0.10 mol/kg DM or less.-   52. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said lignin has a LIEC in the range of 0.05-0.40, 0.10-0.30,    or 0.10-0.20 mol/kg DM.-   53. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein the Lignin Ion Exchange Capacity is around 0.40, 0.35, 0.30,    0.25, 0.20, 0.15, 0.10, mol/kg dry matter or less; in the range of    0.10-0.20, 0.20-0.30, 0.30-0.40 mol/kg dry matter; and/or in the    range of 0.05-0.40, 0.10-0.30, or 0.10-0.20 mol/kg DM.-   54. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said lignin is significantly less polar than Kraft lignin,    such as assessed by LIEC measurement, such as having a LIEC at least    0.10, 0.11, 0.12, 0.13, 0.14, 0.15, 0.16, or 0.17 mol/kg DM lower    than the LIEC of Kraft lignin.-   55. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said lignin is significantly less hygroscopic, such as    binding at least 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80,    85, 90, 95 or 100% (w/w) less water when compared to Kraft lignin.-   56. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said lignin is swelling significantly less than Kraft    lignin, such as swelling at least 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55,    60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95 or 100% less, and optionally wherein    said swelling is determined as change in particle size upon    suspension in water or another suitable medium after 60 min.-   57. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said lignin comprises cellulose in an amount of    2,000-300,000 ppm, such as 3,000-180,000 ppm, e.g. 4,000-160,000    ppm, for example 5,000-140,000 ppm, such as 6,000-120,000 ppm,    7,000-100,000 ppm, for example 8,000-80,000 ppm, such as    9,000-70,000 ppm, e.g. 10,000-60,000 ppm, 12,000-50,000 ppm, such as    14,000-50,000 ppm, e.g. 16,000-40,000 ppm, 18,000-30,000 ppm, such    as 20,000-28,000 ppm, for example 22,000-26,000 ppm (w/w).-   58. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said lignin comprises hemicellulose in an amount of    2,000-200,000 ppm, such as 3,000-180,000 ppm, e.g. 4,000-160,000    ppm, for example 5,000-140,000 ppm, such as 6,000-120,000 ppm,    7,000-100,000 ppm, for example 8,000-80,000 ppm, such as    9,000-70,000 ppm, e.g. 10,000-60,000 ppm, 12,000-50,000 ppm, such as    14,000-50,000 ppm, e.g. 16,000-40,000 ppm, 18,000-30,000 ppm, such    as 20,000-28,000 ppm, for example 22,000-26,000 ppm (w/w).-   59. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said lignin comprises ash in an amount of 2,000-200,000 ppm,    such as 3,000-180,000 ppm, e.g. 4,000-160,000 ppm, for example    5,000-140,000 ppm, such as 6,000-120,000 ppm, 7,000-100,000 ppm, for    example 8,000-80,000 ppm, such as 9,000-70,000 ppm, e.g.    10,000-60,000 ppm, 12,000-50,000 ppm, such as 14,000-50,000 ppm,    e.g. 16,000-40,000 ppm, 18,000-30,000 ppm, such as 20,000-28,000    ppm, for example 22,000-26,000 ppm (w/w).-   60. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein the lignin has a dry matter (dm) of at least 80% (w/w) or    more, such as at least 85% (w/w), such as at least 90% (w/w), such    as at least 92.5% (w/w), such as at least 95% (w/w), such as at    least 96% (w/w), such as at least 97% (w/w), such as at least 98%    (w/w), or such as at least 99% (w/w).-   61. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein the dry matter content of said lignin is 1.0-99% (w/w),    10-99% (w/w) or 20-95% (w/w), such as 21-94% (w/w), e.g. 22-93%    (w/w), such as 23-92% (w/w), such as 24-91% (w/w), for example    25-90% (w/w), such as 26-89% (w/w), such as 27-88% (w/w), for    example 28-87% (w/w), e.g. 29-86% (w/w), such as 30-85% (w/w), such    as 31-84% (w/w), such as 32-83% (w/w), such as 33-82% (w/w), for    example 34-81% (w/w), such as 35-80% (w/w).-   62. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein the lignin is in the form of pellets, granulate, powder,    dried filter cake, or dried decanter cake.-   63. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said lignin is having an average grain size of 1-2000 μm,    1-1500 μm, 1-1200 μm, 1-1000 μm, 1-800 μm, 1-600 μm, 1-500 μm, 1-450    μm, such as 1.5-430 μm, e.g. 2-420 μm, such as 3-410 μm, for example    4-400 μm, e.g. 5-390 μm, such as 6-380 μm, e.g. 7-370 μm, such a    8-360 μm, 9-350 μm, for example 10-340 μm, e.g. 12-330 μm, such as    14-320 μm, such as 16-310 μm, for example 18-300 μm, e.g. 20-290 μm,    such as 22-280 μm, e.g. 25-270 μm, such a 30-260 μm, 35-250 μm, for    example 40-240 μm, e.g. 45-230 μm, such as 50-220 μm, for example    60-210 μm, for example 70-200 μm, e.g. 80-190, for example 90-180    μm, e.g. 100-170 μm, such a 110-160 μm, 120-150 μm, for example    130-140 μm.-   64. A composition according to embodiment 63, wherein said average    grain or particle size is determined before or after providing said    composition, and optionally, wherein said grain or particle size    being measured by laser diffraction spectroscopy, or e.g. by a    Malvern Mastersizer.-   65. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said lignin is having an average molecular weight (Da) of    1,000 or above, 1,500 or above, 2,000 or above, 2,500 or above,    3,000 or above, such as 3,500 or above, e.g. 4,000 or above, such as    5,000 or above, for example 5,500 or above, such as 6,000 or above,    e.g. 7,000 or above, for example 8,000 or above, such as 9,000 or    above, for example 10,000 or above, such as 12,000 or above, e.g.    14,000 or above, for example 16,000 or above, e.g. 18,000 or above,    e.g. 20,000 or above, such as 25,000 or above, e.g. 30,000 or above,    such as 35,000 or above, for example 40,000 or above, such as 45,000    or above, e.g. 50,000 or above, such as 55,000 or above, e.g. 60,000    or above, such as 65,000 or above, e.g. 70,000 or above, such as    75,000 or above, for example 80,000 or above, such as 85,000 or    above, e.g. 90,000 or above, such as 95,000 or above, or 100,000 or    above.-   66. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said lignin originates from a lignocellulosic biomass    obtained from an annual or a perennial plant.-   67. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said lignin originates from a lignocellulosic biomass    obtained, obtainable or derived from the group comprising or    consisting of one or more of: cereal, wheat, wheat straw, rice, rice    straw, corn, corn fiber, corn cobs, corn stover, hardwood bulk,    softwood bulk, sugar cane, sweat sorghum, bagasse, nut shells, empty    fruit bunches, grass, cotton seed hairs, barley, rye, oats, sorghum,    brewer's spent grains, palm waste material, wood, soft    lignocellulosic biomass, hard lignocellulosic biomass, and any    combination thereof.-   68. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said lignin comprises one or more impurities originating    from its mode of production, such as enzyme residues, yeast    residues, foam depressant(s), clean in place (CIP) compounds, salts    and the like.-   69. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said lignin comprises impurity/impurities originating from    compounds native for the lignocellulosic material, such as cellulose    residues, hemicellulose residues, monomeric sugar compounds, dimeric    sugar compounds, oligomeric sugar compounds, carbohydrate residues,    wax residues, minerals, ash, silica (SiO2), silica comprising    compositions, salts, organic acids, and the like, and any    combination thereof.-   70. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein the purity of said lignin is 40% (w/w) or more, such as 42%    (w/w) or more, for example 44% (w/w) or more, such as 46% (w/w) or    more, e.g. 48% (w/w) or more, such as 50% (w/w) or more, such as 52%    (w/w) or more, for example 54% (w/w) or more, such as 56% (w/w) or    more, e.g. 58% (w/w) or more, such as 60% (w/w) or more, such as 62%    (w/w) or more, for example 64% (w/w) or more, such as 66% (w/w) or    more, e.g. 68% (w/w) or more, such as 70% (w/w) or more, such as 72%    (w/w) or more, for example 74% (w/w) or more, such as 76% (w/w) or    more, e.g. 78% (w/w) or more, such as 80% (w/w) or more.-   71. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein the purity of said lignin is 30-80, 40-75, 45-72, or 50-60%    (w/w), and/or around 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, or 80% (w/w).-   72. A composition according to embodiments 70 or 71, wherein said    purity is determined based on content of Klason lignin or acid    insoluble lignin, and optionally, wherein the corresponding    percentage constituting impurities may be any one or more impurity    as defined in embodiments 68 or 69.-   73. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said lignin originates from a lignocellulosic biomass having    been subjected to a hydrothermal pretreatment followed by a    hydrolysis of at least part of the cellulose and at least part of    the hemicellulose present in said lignocellulosic biomass.-   74. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said lignin originates from a lignocellulosic biomass having    been subject to a hydrothermal pretreatment followed by a hydrolysis    of at least part of the cellulose and at least part of the    hemicellulose present in said lignocellulosic biomass; and    optionally followed by a fermentation, such as an alcohol    fermentation.-   75. A composition according to embodiment 73 or 75, wherein said    hydrolysis is an acid catalyzed hydrolysis, an alkaline hydrolysis,    an enzymatic hydrolysis or any combination thereof.-   76. A composition according to any one of embodiments 73-75, wherein    said lignin is obtained by pressing a fibrous fraction obtained    after subjecting said lignocellulosic biomass to said hydrothermal    pretreatment followed by said hydrolysis.-   77. A composition according to embodiment 76, wherein said pressing    of said fibrous fraction is preceded by rinsing and/or washing of    said fibrous fraction.-   78. A composition according to embodiment 76 or 77, wherein said    lignin is obtained by mechanically comminuting said pressed fibrous    fraction to a desired extent, such as to around or at least 20, 25,    30, 35 or 40% dm (w/w).-   79. A composition according to any one of the preceding embodiments,    wherein said lignin is obtained by a process for treatment of a    lignocellulosic biomass, said process comprising:    -   a) subjecting said lignocellulosic biomass to hydrothermal        pretreatment resulting in a hydrothermally pretreated        lignocellulosic biomass;    -   b) subjecting at least part of said hydrothermally pretreated        lignocellulosic biomass obtained in step (a) to a hydrolysis        resulting in a liquid fraction comprising soluble carbohydrates,        and a fiber fraction comprising a lignin component;    -   c) optionally subjecting at least part of the liquid fraction        obtained in step (b) to a fermentation in order to ferment at        least part of said soluble carbohydrates to a fermentation        product, such as ethanol, methane or butanol, thereby obtaining        a fermentation broth;    -   d) optionally isolating at least part of said fermentation        product from the fermentation broth obtained in step (c) e.g. by        distillation; and    -   e) isolating at least part of the lignin from one or more of:        the fibre fraction obtained in step (b); the fermentation broth        obtained in step (c); or after isolation of at least a part of        the fermentation product in step (d).-   80. A composition according to embodiment 79, wherein said at least    part of said lignin fraction is isolated from the fibre fraction    obtained in step (b).-   81. A composition according to embodiment 79 or 80, wherein said at    least part of said lignin fraction is isolated from said    fermentation broth obtained in step (c).-   82. A composition according to any one of the embodiments 79-81,    wherein said lignin is obtained in step (b), (c) and/or (e) by    removing an associated liquid phase by using one or more separation    device(s), such as a hydraulic press, a vacuum filtration unit, a    belt filter, a rotary filter or a centrifuge decanter.-   83. A composition according to any one of the embodiments 79 to 82,    wherein said lignin obtained in step (b), (c) and/or (e) is dried to    a residual water content at 110° C. of 0-10% (w/w), such as 0.5-7.5%    (w/w), such as 1-5% (w/w), such as 2-4% (w/w), or 2-25% (w/w), such    as 4-20% (w/w), for example 6-16% (w/w), such as 8-14% (w/w), e.g.    10-12% (w/w).-   84. A composition according to any one of the embodiments 79 to 83,    wherein said hydrothermal pretreatment of said lignocellulosic    biomass is performed without addition of one or more acid(s) and/or    base(s).-   85. A composition according to any one of the embodiments 79 to 84,    wherein said hydrothermal pretreatment of said lignocellulosic    biomass (i) comprises or (ii) does not comprise addition of an acid    and/or base, such as H₂SO₄, HCl, NH₃, NH₄OH, NaOH, KOH, Ca(OH)₂ or    the like.-   86. A composition according to any one of the embodiments 79 to 85,    wherein said hydrothermal pretreatment of said lignocellulosic    biomass is performed at a temperature of 150-260° C., such as    160-250° C., e.g. 170-240° C., such as 180-230° C., for example    190-220° C., such as 200-210° C.-   87. A composition according to any of the embodiments 79 to 86,    wherein said hydrothermal pretreatment of said lignocellulosic    biomass is performed in a period of residence time of 2-120 min.,    such as 5-110 min., e.g. 10-100 min., for example 15-90 min., such    as 20-80 min., such as 25-70 min., e.g. 30-60 min, such as 35-50    min, such as 40-45 min.-   88. A composition according to any one of the embodiments 79 to 87,    wherein said hydrothermal pretreatment of said lignocellulosic    biomass is performed by subjecting said lignocellulosic biomass to a    log severity, log(Ro) of 2.5 or more, such as a log(Ro) of 2.6 or    more, e.g. a log(Ro) of 2.7 or more, such as a log(Ro) of 2.8 or    more, for example a log(Ro) of 2.9 or more, such as a log(Ro) of 3.0    or more, such as a log(Ro) of 3.1 or more, for example a log(Ro) of    3.2 or more, e.g. a log(Ro) of 3.3 or more, such as a log(Ro) of 3.4    or more, such as a log(Ro) of 3.5 or more; such as a log(Ro) of 3.6    or more; for example such as a log(Ro) of 3.7 or more, e.g. a    log(Ro) of 3.8 or more, for example a log(Ro) of 3.9 or more, for    example a log(Ro) of 4.0 or more, such as a log(Ro) of 4.1 or more,    or a log(Ro) of 4.2 or more; wherein the log severity is defined as:    log(Ro)=(residence time)×(exp[Temperature−100/14.75]).-   89. A composition according to any one of the embodiments 79 to 88,    wherein said hydrothermal pretreatment of said lignocellulosic    biomass results in a xylan number of: below 4, around 4, 4-5, around    5, 5-6, around 6, 6-7, around 7, 7-8, around 8, 8-9, around 9, 9-10,    around 10, 10-11, around 11, 11-12, around 12, 12-13, around 13,    13-14, around 14, 14-15, around 15, 15-16, around 16, 16-17, around    17, or more than 17.-   90. A composition according to any one of the embodiments 79 to 89,    wherein said hydrolysis is (i) an acid catalyzed hydrolysis    and/or (ii) an enzymatic hydrolysis, said enzymatic hydrolysis    comprising pH adjustment before and/or during hydrolysis.-   91. A composition according to any one of the embodiments 79 to 90,    wherein said hydrolysis comprises the action of one or more    cellulase(s).-   92. A composition according to embodiment 91, wherein said one or    more cellulases are selected from the group comprising    exo-glucanases, endo-glucanases, hemi-cellulases and    beta-glucosidases.-   93. A composition according to any one of the any one of the    embodiments 79 to 92, wherein said hydrolysis is performed for a    period of time of 1-200 hours, such as 5-190 hours, such as 10-185    hours, e.g. 15-180 hours, for example 20-175 hours, such as 25-170    hours, such as 30-165 hours, e.g. 35-160 hours, for example 40-155    hours, such as 45-150 hours, such as 50-145 hours, e.g. 55-140    hours, for example 60-135 hours, such as 65-130 hours, such as    70-125 hours, e.g. 75-120 hours, for example 80-115 hours, such as    85-110 hours, such as 90-105 hours, e.g. 95-100 hours.-   94. A composition according to any one of the any one of the    embodiments 79 to 93, wherein said step (b) and step (c) are    performed as a separate hydrolysis and fermentation step (SHF), and    wherein said hydrolysis is performed at a temperature of 30-72° C.,    such as 32-70° C., e.g. 34-68° C., for example 36-66° C., such as    38-64° C., e.g. 40-62° C., 42-60° C., e.g. 44-58° C., for example    46-56° C., such as 48-54° C., e.g. 50-52° C.-   95. A composition according to any one of the embodiments 79 to 94,    wherein said hydrolysis is performed in a period of time of 70-125    hours, e.g. 75-120 hours, for example 80-115 hours, such as 85-110    hours, such as 90-105 hours, e.g. 95-100 hours.-   96. A composition according to any one of the embodiments 79 to 95,    wherein said step (b) and step (c) are performed as a simultaneous    saccharification and fermentation step (SSF), and wherein said    hydrolysis is performed at a temperature of 30-72° C., such as    32-70° C., e.g. 34 68° C., for example 36-66° C., such as 38-64° C.,    e.g. 40-62° C., 42-60° C., e.g. 44-58° C., for example 46-56° C.,    such as 48-54° C., e.g. 50-52° C.-   97. A composition according to any one of the embodiments 79 to 96,    wherein said hydrolysis is performed in a period of time of 1-12    hours, such as 2-11 hours, for example 3-10 hours, such as 4-9    hours, e.g. 5-8 hours, such as 6-7 hours.-   98. A composition according to any one of the embodiments 79 to 97,    wherein said step (b) and step (c) are performed as a simultaneous    saccharification and fermentation step (SSF), and wherein said    fermentation is performed at a temperature of 25-40° C., such as    26-39° C., e.g. 27-38° C., for example 28-37° C., e.g. 29-36° C.,    for example 30-35° C., such as 31-34° C. or 32-33° C.-   99. A composition according to any one of the embodiments 79 to 98,    wherein said fermentation is performed in a period of time of    100-200 hours, such as 105-190 hours, such as 110-185 hours, e.g.    115-180 hours, for example 120-175 hours, such as 125-170 hours,    such as 130-165 hours, e.g. 135-160 hours, for example 140-155    hours, such as 145-150 hours.-   100. A composition according to any one of the embodiments 79 to 99,    wherein said process comprises “C5 bypass”, i.e. comprising a    solid/liquid separation step before step (b), wherein the liquid    fraction is not subjected to said hydrolysis in step (b).-   101. A composition according to any one of the embodiments 79 to    100, wherein said process comprises a two (or more) step treatment,    and optionally, wherein a liquid fraction is collected after a first    pretreatment step, e.g. by pressing.-   102. A composition according to any one of the embodiments 79 to    101, wherein said process is conducted as “whole slurry” process,    i.e. wherein the pretreated biomass is subjected directly in a    subsequent hydrolysis step, such as an enzymatic hydrolysis and/or    fermentation.-   103. A composition according to any one of the preceding    embodiments, wherein the lignin is obtained from soft    lignocellulosic biomass, such as a biomass used or suitable for    2^(nd) generation bioethanol production, digestate or waste, and    optionally from a process comprising essentially no addition of acid    or base during pretreatment.-   104. A composition according to any one of the preceding    embodiments, wherein said composition is foaming at least 25, 20,    15, or 10% less under mixing when compared to a comparable    composition comprising soda lignin, Kraft lignin, such as Indulin    AT, organosolv lignin or pure lignin.-   105. A composition according to any one of the preceding    embodiments, wherein said composition is requiring significantly    less anti-foaming agent, such as at least 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60,    70, 80, or 90% less anti-foaming agent, or no anti-foaming agent,    when compared to a comparable composition comprising soda lignin,    Kraft lignin, such as Indulin AT, organosolv lignin or pure lignin    in order to provide comparable foaming characteristics during    mixing.-   106. A composition according to any one of the preceding    embodiments, wherein said composition is requiring significantly    less plasticity modifying agent, such as at least 10, 20, 30, 40,    50, 60, 70, 80, or 90% less anti-foam plasticity modifying agent,    when compared to a comparable composition comprising soda lignin,    Kraft lignin, such as Indulin AT, organosolv lignin or pure lignin    in order to provide comparable characteristics such as one or more    quality parameters, such as penetration, softening point, rheology,    cohesion, adhesion and durability, e.g. as disclosed in SHB#6,    Chapter 5, in particular Chapters 5.5.1-5.5.4.-   107. A composition according to any one of the preceding    embodiments, wherein said composition comprises significantly more    non-bitumen derived carbon, such as at least 10, 20, 30, 40, 50% or    more non-bitumen derived carbon when compared to a comparable    composition comprising soda lignin, Kraft lignin, such as Indulin    AT, organosolv lignin or pure lignin in order to provide comparable    characteristics such as one or more quality parameters, such as    penetration, softening point, rheology, cohesion, adhesion and    durability, e.g. as disclosed in SHB#6, Chapter 5, in particular    Chapters 5.5.1-5.5.4.-   108. A composition according to any one of the preceding    embodiments, wherein said composition shows one or more of: (i) a    significant reduction in oxidation, e.g. under mixing and/or    exposure of a surface to air and/or oxygen; (ii) a significant    increase in UV resistance, and/or (iii) a significant increase    longevity, wherein said significant reduction or increase is at    least 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50%. when compared to a composition    comprising soda lignin, Kraft lignin, such as Indulin AT, organosols    lignin, or pure lignin instead.-   109. Use of a composition according to any one of the preceding    embodiments in one or more of: sealing work, road work, paving work,    providing a surface layer, providing a sealing layer, providing a    road and providing a pavement, providing a top layer of a road.-   110. Use of a composition according to any one of embodiments 1-108    in applications relating to (i) agriculture, (ii) buildings and    industrial paving, (iii) hydraulics and erosion control, (iv)    industrial, (v) paving, (vi) railways, and (vii) recreation, such as    ad (i) disinfectants, fence post coating, mulches, mulching paper,    paved barn floors, barnyards, feed platforms, protecting tanks,    vats, protection for concrete structures, tree paints (protective);    ad (ii): water and moisture barriers (above and below ground), floor    compositions, tiles, coverings, insulating fabrics, papers, step    treads, building papers, caulking compounds, cement waterproofing    compounds, glass wool compositions, insulating fabrics, felts,    papers, joint filler compounds, laminated roofing shingles, liquid    roof coatings, plastic cements, shingles, acoustical blocks,    compositions, felts, bricks, damp-proofing coatings, compositions,    insulating board, fabrics, felts, paper, masonry coatings,    plasterboards, putty, soundproofing, stucco base, wallboard,    air-drying paints, varnishes, artificial timber, ebonised timber,    insulating paints, plumbing, pipes, treated awnings, canal linings,    sealants; ad (iii): catchment areas, basins, dam groutings, dam    linings, protection, dyke protection, ditch linings, drainage    gutters, structures, embankment protection, groynes, jetties, levee    protection, mattresses for levee and bank protection, membrane    linings, waterproofing, reservoir linings, revetments, sand dune    stabilisation, sewage lagoons, oxidation ponds, swimming pools,    waste ponds, water barriers, backed felts, ad (iv): conduit    insulation, lamination, insulating boards, paint compositions,    papers, pipe wrapping, insulating felts, panel boards, underseal,    battery boxes, carbons, electrical insulating compounds, papers,    tapes, wire coatings, junction box compound, moulded conduits, black    grease, buffing compounds, cable splicing compound, embalming,    etching compositions, extenders, explosives, lap cement,    plasticisers, preservatives, printing inks, well drilling fluid,    armoured bituminised fabrics, burlap impregnation, mildew    prevention, sawdust, cork, asphalt composition, acid-proof enamels,    mastics, varnishes, acid-resistant coatings, air-drying paints,    varnishes, anti-corrosive and anti-fouling paints, anti-oxidants and    solvents, base for solvent compositions, baking and heat-resistant    enamels, boat deck sealing compound, lacquers, japans, marine    enamels, blasting fuses, briquette binders, burial vaults, casting    moulds, clay articles, clay pigeons, expansion joints, flowerpots,    foundry cores, friction tape, gaskets, mirror backing, rubber,    moulded compositions, shoe fillers, soles; ad (v): airport runways,    taxiways, aprons, asphalt blocks, brick fillers, bridge deck,    surfacing, crack fillers, floors for buildings, warehouses, garages,    highways, roads, streets, shoulders, kerbs, gutters, drainage    ditches, parking lots, driveways, Portland cement concrete    underseal, roof-deck parking, pavements, footpaths, soil    stabilisation; ad (vi) ballast treatment, dust laying, paved    ballast, sub-ballast, paved crossings, freight yards, station    platforms; and ad (vii) dance pavilions, drive-in movies,    gymnasiums, sport arenas, playgrounds, school yards, race tracks,    running tracks, skating rinks, swimming and wading pools, tennis    courts, handball courts, synthetic playing fields and running track    surfaces.-   111. A sealing layer comprising a composition according to any one    of the preceding embodiments.-   112. A sealing layer according to embodiment 111, said sealing layer    being comprised in a roof, dam, pool, pond, lake, roof, bridge,    tunnel, road, or the like.-   113. A sealing layer according to embodiment 111 or 112, said    sealing layer comprising 5-15, or 7-10% bitumen, optionally being    provided by heating mastic asphalt to a temperature of 210° C. and    being spreading in layers to form an impervious barrier of e.g. 20    mm.-   114. An asphalt composition comprising a composition according to    any one of embodiments 1 to 109.-   115. An asphalt according to embodiment 114, said asphalt being    mastic asphalt or rolled asphalt.-   116. A road and/or pavement comprising a composition according to    any one of embodiments 1-108, 114 or 115.-   117. A road and/or pavement according to embodiment 116, comprising    a surface layer and optionally one or more further layers.-   118. A road and/or pavement according to embodiment 116 or 117,    wherein said one or more further layer is a binder layer, a base    layer, and/or a sub base layer.-   119. A road and/or pavement according to any one of embodiments    116-118, wherein said surface layer comprises a composition    according to any one of embodiments 1-108, 114 or 115.-   120. A road and/or pavement according to any one of embodiments 116    to 119, wherein said one or more further layer comprises a    composition according to any one of embodiments 1 to 107, 113 or    114.-   121. Construction work comprising the provision and/or use of a    composition according to any one of embodiments 1-107, 113 or 114,    such as a use according to embodiments 109 or 110.-   122. Construction work according to embodiment 121, said work being    road work and/or sealing work.-   123. A process for providing a composition according to any one of    embodiments 1 to 108, 114 or 115, comprising the steps of mixing    said bitumen, said one or more plasticity modifying agent(s), said    lignin, and said optionally one or more further component(s).-   124. A process according to embodiment 123, wherein said mixing    comprises mixing at a temperature between 140 and 220, 160-200, or    170-180° C.-   125. A process for treatment of a lignocellulosic biomass, said    process comprising:    -   a. subjecting said lignocellulosic biomass for hydrothermal        pretreatment resulting in a hydrothermally pretreated        lignocellulosic biomass;    -   b. subjecting at least part of said hydrothermally pretreated        lignocellulosic biomass obtained in step (a) to a hydrolysis        resulting in a liquid fraction comprising soluble carbohydrates,        and a fiber fraction comprising a lignin component;    -   c. optionally subjecting at least part of the liquid fraction        obtained in step (b) to a fermentation in order to ferment at        least part of said soluble carbohydrates to a fermentation        product, such as ethanol, methane or butanol, thereby obtaining        a fermentation broth;    -   d. optionally isolating at least part of said fermentation        product from the fermentation broth obtained in step (c) e.g. by        distillation;    -   e. isolating at least part of the lignin from one or more of:        the fiber fraction obtained in step (b); the fermentation broth        obtained in step (c); or after isolation of at least a part of        the fermentation product in step (d);    -   f. converting at least part of the lignin component obtained in        step (e) to a composition according to any one of embodiments        1-108, 114 or 115 by admixing said lignin component with bitumen        and a plasticity modifying agent(s).-   126. A process according to embodiment 125, further comprising one    or more step(s) and/or feature(s) according to any one of the    preceding embodiments, such as a mixing step according to embodiment    123 or 124.-   127. A bitumen emulsion comprising a composition according to any    one of embodiments 1-108, 114 or 115.-   128. A maintenance, repair and/or re-cycling process comprising the    use of a composition according to any one of embodiments 1-108, 114,    115, or 127 and/or a sealing layer, road or pavement according to    any one of embodiments 111-113, or 116-120.

EXAMPLES

TABLE 1 Description of lignin utilised. Klason lignin, glucan, xylan,and ash contents were determined by NREL strong acid hydrolysis. NamePretreatment Enzyme Klason of ISK process hydrolysis Lignin Glucan XylanAsh LIEC***) lignin name*⁾ Description conditions**) conditionsFermentation (% of TS) (% of TS) (% of TS) (% of TS) (mol/kg) Kraft —Indulin — — — 72.6% 0.1% 1.1% 4.1% 0.471 AT: Type of kraft lignin frompaper industry F3 13-62- Inbicon Xylan Low Yes 61.1% 14.8% 1.2% 12.1%0.071 R6-3 F version 1, number = 5 (Version 1) low enzyme dosage F413-62- Inbicon Xylan High Yes 71.2% 3.5% 2.2% 13.2% 0.093 R6-4 F version1, number = 5 (Version 1) high enzyme dosage V2 14-56- Standard XylanLow Yes 52.8% 21.7% 5.8% 10.2% 0.133 R4-6 Inbicon number = 12.3 (Version2) lignin (version 2) V3 14-56- Unfermented Xylan Low No 45.0% 25.3%7.7% 8.9% 0.130 R4-11 Inbicon number = 12.3 (Version 2) lignin (version3) A 15-10- Lignin Xylan Low Yes 58.0% 14.8% 3.7% 12.5% 0.044 K5-3 fromacid number = (Version 2) pretreatment 7 (40 gH₂SO₄/kg TS) *⁾internalreference number. **)“Xylan number” - see Example 8 ***)“Lignin IonExchange Capacity” - see Example 9

TABLE 2 Analysis of lignin. Phenolic OH (phOH) and carboxylic acids(COOH) contents were quantified by non-aqueous titration. C, H, N, and Ocontents were quantified in a CHN-Analyzer (EuroVector EuroEA 3000).Remaining elemental contents were quantified using an X-ray fluorescencespectrometer (Rigaku Supermini 200). Name phOH COOH of (mmol/ (mmol/ MgAl Si P S Cl K Ca Fe C H N O lignin g) g) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)(%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) Kraft 2.19 ± 1.58 ± 0.037 ± 0.014 ± 0.03 ± 0.001± 1.676 ± 0.013 ± 0.211 ± 0.023 ± 0.005 ± 61.7 ± 5.42 ± 0.72 ± 28.20 ±0.01 0.08 0.002 0.003 0.005 0.001 0.014 0.000 0.003 0.000 0.000 0.1 0.210.07 2.35 F3 n.d. n.d. 0.016 0.054 5.97 0.082 0.16 0.016 0.28 0.47 0.063n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. F4 1.46 ± 1.23 ± 0.032 ± 0.041 ± 5.64 ± 0.120 ±0.196 ± 0.057 ± 0.273 ± 0.522 ± 0.059 ± 50.6 ± 4.98 ± 1.59 ± 35.56 ±0.03 0.00 0.008 0.002 0.004 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.005 0.009 0.002 0.3 0.060.04 0.23 V2 0.94 ± 1.23 ± 0.067 ± 0.076 ± 3.83 ± 0.095 ± 0.139 ± 0.064± 0.346 ± 1.266 ± 0.121 ± 45.8 ± 5.04 ± 1.17 ± 41.94 ± 0.09 0.01 0.0060.000 0.061 0.003 0.003 0.001 0.002 0.011 0.000 0.1 0.04 0.11 1.57 V30.89 ± 1.12 ± 0.071 ± 0.066 ± 3.29 ± 0.054 ± 0.122 ± 0.087 ± 0.413 ±0.896 ± 0.103 ± 45.9 ± 5.20 ± 1.03 ± 42.74 ± 0.12 0.15 0.006 0.002 0.0040.003 0.001 0.002 0.004 0.024 0.001 0.2 0.14 0.25 2.94 A 1.15 ± 1.38 ±0.026 ± 0.073 ± 2.92 ± 0.070 ± 0.730 ± 0.015 ± 0.197 ± 1.576 ± 0.170 ±50.9 ± 5.44 ± 1.42 ± 36.41 ± 0.04 0.06 0.008 0.002 0.011 0.001 0.0000.000 0.001 0.019 0.002 0.0 0.00 0.00 0.47 OS 2.70 ± 0.99 ± 0.000 ±0.000 ± 0.000 ± 0.002 ± 0.000 ± 0.001 ± 0.018 ± 0.018 ± 0.004 ± 66.2 ±5.85 ± 0.01 ± 27.95 ± 0.04 0.09 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.0010.002 0.001 0.001 1.9 0.22 0.01 2.1 n.d. = not determined

Example 1—Lignin Production

Information about the different lignin products and their origin ispresented in Table 1. Indulin AT is a commercially available productfrom the Kraft pulping process. Other lignin products were produced atthe DONG Energy Inbicon pilot plant by first soaking wheat straw to 40%TS with either water (for F3, F4, V2, and V3), pH around 6, or H₂SO₄ inwater, pH 1.5±0.1 (for A), and then performing hydrothermal pretreatmentat suitable process conditions (in this case 150-200° C. for 15-30minutes) to give the desired xylan number. Xylan numbers indicative ofpretreatment severities are given in Table 1. In case of samples V2 andV3, the pretreatment was milder than for F3 and F4. For V2 and V3, asolid/liquid separation was performed after pretreatment (“C5−bypass”),wherein the solid fraction proceeded to enzymatic hydrolysis, incontrast to the liquid fraction that bypassed this step. For V2 and V3,the liquid fraction was recombined with the enzymatically hydrolizedfraction prior to fermentation. Enzymatic hydrolysis was performed withCellic CTec 3 (Novozymes, Denmark) at either low (50-150 g/kg glucan) orhigh (250-350 g/kg glucan) enzyme dosage. pH was adjusted to 5.0 withCaOH prior to enzymatic hydrolysis. Hydrolysis time was either 100-120hours (Version 1) or 140-160 hours (Version 2). In some cases, enzymatichydrolysis was followed by fermentation of glucose and/or xylose intoethanol. Then a solid/liquid separation was performed in a filterchamber press and the solid fraction (lignin) was dried at 50° C. to adry matter content of at least 90. Lignin samples were then milled in anIKA MF 10 basic using a 0.5 mm sieve yielding an expected averageparticle size of around 0.5 mm. Lignin was characterised by NREL strongacid hydrolysis according to Sluiter et al. (2008) and non-aqueoustitration according to Pobiner (1983). Immediately before mixing withbitumen, lignin samples were dried at 105° C. in a Mettler Toledo HR83-Puntil the mass loss was neglectable (according to standard factorysettings) and the sample per definition was dry (100% TS). For analysis,unless indicated otherwise, samples were dried at 50° C. until stable(usually 24 h were sufficient).

Example 2—CHN and XRF Analysis

For CHN analysis, 1 mg of dried sample was weighed off in a tin thimbleand analysed for C, H & N content in a Eurovector EA3000 CHN analyserwith a thermal conductivity detector (TCD). The signal was quantifiedusing a standard curve of acetanilide as a model compound. O contentswere calculated by subtracting contents of C, H, N and ash from 100%.X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) was used for quantifying contentsof Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, and Fe. 4 grams of dry lignin sample waspelletized under 20 ton pressure in a Specac Atlas Manual 25T HydraulicPress and analysed in a Rigaku Supermini 200. The results of the CHNanalysis or C₆H_(8.4)O₃₅ (representing the average chemical for thistype of samples) where used to balance the XRF output calculations.Results from analysis of lignin products are shown in Table 2.

Example 3—Preparation of Modified Bitumen

Bitumen (330/430) provided by Nynas A/S, Denmark, was heated to 180° C.using a glycerol bath. A desired amount of SBS(Polystyrene-block-polybutadiene-block-polystyrene, styrene 30% (w/w);CAS no: 9003-55-8; Sigma-Aldrich) was added to the bitumen and left for15 min until the SBS was heated up. Homogenisation was performed bygradually increasing stirring rate (5000 rpm for 10 min, 10000 rpm for20 min, 15000 rpm for 20 min) using an IKA T25 Ultra Turrax (S25N-18GDispersing element). Homogenised bitumen was aliquoted into 20 mL glassscintillation vials (10 g in each) and lignin (10% (w/w) finalconcentration) was added and homogenised using an Ultra Turrax (10000rpm, S25N-10G Dispersing element; 10000 rpm with dispersing element asclose to the vial bottom as possible) for 10 min. No lignin was added tothe negative control.

Example 4—Relative Foam Development

The degree of foaming was determined by measuring the height at whichthe foam reached for the given sample during preparation according toExample 3. Since height is proportional to volume in the cylindricalvials, this was used for calculating the increase in sample volumecaused by foaming compared to a reference sample and relative to theoriginal sample volume:

$\begin{matrix}{{{R\; F\; D} = {\frac{h_{sample} - h_{ref}}{h_{initial}}*100}},} & (1)\end{matrix}$

where RFD is Relative Foam Development given in percent, h_(sample) wasthe height of the sample including foam in the vial duringhomogenisation, h_(ref) was the height during homogenisation of thereference sample, i.e. bitumen without lignin, and h_(initial) was theheight of the sample before addition of lignin and beforehomogenisation. Heights were recorded in mm by measuring on the glassvials immediately after homogenisation. As shown in FIG. 1, the heightof the foam was visible on the transparent glass vials even afterhomogenisation. If the height was not even around the side of the vial,the height at the lowest point was measured.

Results are shown in Table 3 and FIG. 2. It was observed that foamdevelopment was higher for Kraft lignin compared to the other lignintypes. This could be an issue in industrial application of this type oflignin in bitumen. Foam development at high SBS concentrations seemed tobe governed by how lignin was produced, since RFD of F4 lignin (highseverity, high enzyme dosage) was lower than RFD for V2 lignin (lowseverity, standard enzyme dosage). This suggests that RFD can becontrolled by process conditions during lignin production. Results alsoindicated that addition of acid in biomass pretreatment could have anegative effects on RFD.

TABLE 3 Relative Foam Development of bitumen modified with variouslignin products. Numbers are relative to the reference, i.e. withoutaddition of lignin. Relative Foam Development Sample name 1% SBS 4.5%SBS Kraft 44 ± 0% 42 ± 3% F3 34 ± 3% 26 ± 3% F4 30 ± 3% 30 ± 3% V2 37 ±2% 28 ± 0% A 40 ± 0% 26 ± 3%

Example 5—Softening Point

Directly after preparation, 3.5 g of hot bitumen or modified bitumen waspoured into a round bottomless aluminium form (diameter of 28 mm) placedin a container with a 25% (w/w) glucose in glycerol on the bottom toprevent the sample from sticking to the container. The sample wasallowed to cool for at least 30 min before it was transferred to a waterbath (14 cm in diameter) containing 500 mL, 20° C. deionised water and asample holder elevated 25 mm from the bottom of the container. A ball (1g, 5 mm) was placed at the centre of the sample and left for 5 min. Theheat plate was turned on to 140° C. giving a heating rate of 5.5±0.5°C./min up until 50° C. This heating rate steadily decreased to around3.25±0.5° C./min at 70° C. The softening point was the temperature wherethe sample touched the bottom of the container.

It is seen that at low SBS concentration (1%), lignin in general had apositive effect, i.e. increase in softening point of bitumen (Table 4).Furthermore, it was also observed that at low SBS concentration, ligninwith Klason lignin contents as low as 53% (V2) increased the softeningpoint of bitumen more than much purer lignin as for example Kraft ligninwith a Klason lignin content of 73%. At high SBS concentration (4.5%),the general tendency was that addition of lignin tends to slightly lowerthe softening point.

TABLE 4 Test results of bitumen modified with various lignin products.Softening point Sample name 1% SBS 4.5% SBS No lignin 38.9 ± 0.5° C.72.1 ± 0.7° C. Kraft 40.1 ± 0.2° C. 69.4 ± 0.3° C. F3 41.5 ± 1.0° C.70.7 ± 1.7° C. F4 40.7 ± 1.0° C. 70.1 ± 1.5° C. V2 41.8 ± 0.8° C. 69.4 ±0.1° C. A 38.9 ± 0.6° C. 70.4 ± 1.7° C.

Example 6—Penetration Test

Directly after preparation, as described in Example 3, hot bitumen ormodified bitumen was poured into a round aluminium form (diameter of 28mm). Samples were left to cool at room temperature for at least 1 hour.A needle (1.4 mm in diameter, 0.2 mm at the tip) with a load yielding atotal weight of 100 g was placed above the sample so that the tip barelytouched it. The needle was released and the depth at which the needlepenetrated the sample in 5 seconds was measured by measuring thedistance at which the needle and load had dropped. Tests were done atroom temperature (24±1° C.).

Results from the penetration test are presented in Table 5. As seen,none of the lignin products resulted in worse performance in thepenetration test than the control. Actually, most lignin-comprisingSBS/bitumen compositions seem to result in a slight reduction ofpenetration.

TABLE 5 Test results of bitumen modified with various lignin products.Penetration test Sample name 1% SBS 4.5% SBS No lignin 5.8 ± 0.4 mm 5.0± 0.4 mm Kraft 5.5 ± 0.7 mm 5.0 ± 0.0 mm F3 5.0 ± 0.7 mm 4.3 ± 0.4 mm F45.0 ± 0.7 mm 4.8 ± 0.4 mm V2 5.5 ± 0.7 mm 5.0 ± 0.0 mm A 5.3 ± 0.4 mm4.3 ± 0.4 mm

Example 7—Lignin Pre- and Post-Fermentation

V3 lignin was produced under similar process conditions as V2, butwithout fermentation after enzymatic hydrolysis. This resulted in a lesspure lignin, i.e. lower Klason lignin content, and higher carbohydratecontent presumably due to the presence of unfermented monosaccharides.After preparation according to Example 3 with 4.5% SBS and 10% lignin,modified bitumens were tested according to Example 5, respectively.Samples comprising V3 lignin showed a slightly lower softening pointcompared to V2-comprising samples (Table 6). Without wanting to be boundby any theory, one might speculate that this was e.g. due to theunfermented monosaccharides in V3, so that if these were removed fromthe lignin, either by washing or by fermentation into ethanol or otherproducts, the lignin might behave similarly to V2 in bitumen samples.

TABLE 6 Comparison of SBS-modified bitumen modified comprising V2 and V3lignin products. Softening point No lignin 72.1 ± 0.7° C. V2 69.4 ± 0.1°C. V3 67.7 ± 1.0° C.

Example 8—Determination of Xylan Numbers

Pretreated biomass is subject to solid/liquid separation to provide asolid fraction at about 30% total solids and a liquid fraction. Thissolid fraction is then partially washed by mixing with 70° C. water inthe ratio of total solids (DM) to water of 1:3 weight:weight (w:w). Thesolid fraction washed in this manner is then pressed to about 30% totalsolids. Xylan content of the solid fraction washed in this manner isdetermined using the method of A. Sluiter, et al., “Determination ofstructural carbohydrates and lignin in biomass,” US National RenewableEnergy Laboratory (NREL) Laboratory Analytical Procedure (LAP) withissue date Apr. 25, 2008, as described in Technical ReportNREL/TP-510-42618, revised April 2008, which is expressly incorporatedby reference herein in entirety. An HPLC column and elution system isused in which galactose and mannose co-elute with xylose. Examples ofsuch systems include a REZEX™ Monossacharide H+ column from Phenomenexand an AMINEX HPX 87C™ column from Biorad. This measurement of xylancontent as described will include some contribution of soluble materialfrom residual liquid fraction that is not washed out of solid fractionunder these conditions. Accordingly, “xylan number” provides a “weightedcombination” measurement of residual xylan content within insolublesolids and of soluble xylose and xylo-oligomer content within the“liquid fraction.” Without wanting to be bound by any theory, it isbelieved that there is an indirect correlation between xylan number andpretreatment severity, wherein high xylan numbers indicate lowpretreatment severity, and vice versa.

Example 9—Determination of Lignin Ion Exchange Capacity (LIEC)

10 g of lignin (Kraft, F3, F4, V2, V3, A) (dry, i.e. dry matter above95% (w/w)) is mixed with 40 g of a 23 (w/w) % KCl solution. The solutionis homogenized with a Ultra Turrax for 30 s at ˜10,000 rpm. It is thenshaken for more than one hour at room temperature. The mixture isfiltered and the filter cake is washed with 4×100 ml water. The filtercake is dried at 50° C. until stable (e.g. 24 h), and the content ofpotassium and chloride is measured by XRF according to Example 2

Results:

Before KCl treatment, all samples had similar K levels of 0.2-0.4%.However, after KCl treatment, Kraft lignin had a much higher K content(1.84%), while the 2G lignin samples had significantly lower K content(0.136-0.145%).

This clearly demonstrates the enhanced ability of Kraft lignin to bindK, relative to e.g Inbicon 2G lignin, caused by an increased number ofhydrophilic, polar functional groups in Kraft lignin. The number ofthese groups can be estimated by calculating the so-called Lignin IonExchange Capacity (LIEC), here defined as the number of moles ofpotassium bound to lignin per kilo sample (unit: mol K/kg sample). Thisparameter has been calculated and is also given in the Table 7 below:

TABLE 7 LIEC values of lignin samples Kraft, F3, F4, V2, V3, and A ShortLIEC name K1 % Cl1 % K2 % Cl2 % mol/kg Kraft 0.227 0.014 1.842 0.02130.471 F3 0.323 0.071 0.279 0.0163 0.071 F4 0.273 0.057 0.366 0.021 0.093V2 0.339 0.063 0.520 0.0142 0.133 V3 0.386 0.082 0.509 0.164 0.130 A0.197 0.015 0.173 0.0071 0.044

REFERENCES

-   Pobiner, H. (1983). Improved inflection points in the non-aqueous    potentiometric titration of acid functionalities in lignin chemicals    by using internal standardization and ion exchange. Analytica    Chimica Acta, 155, 57-65.-   Sluiter A, Hames B, Ruiz R, Scarlata C, Sluiter J, Templeton D,    Crocker D. (2008). Determination of structural carbohydrates and    lignin in biomass. NREL Technical Report 510:42618.

1. A composition comprising bitumen, one or more plasticity modifyingagent(s), lignin, and optionally one or more further component(s);wherein said lignin is obtained by a process for treatment of alignocellulosic biomass, said process comprising: a) subjectinglignocellulosic biomass to hydrothermal pretreatment resulting in ahydrothermally pretreated lignocellulosic biomass; followed by b)subjecting at least part of said hydrothermally pretreatedlignocellulosic biomass obtained in step (a) to a hydrolysis resultingin a liquid fraction comprising soluble carbohydrates, and a fiberfraction comprising a lignin component, wherein said hydrolysis is anacid catalyzed hydrolysis and/or enzymatic hydrolysis; followed by c)optionally subjecting at least part of the liquid fraction obtained instep (b) to a fermentation in order to ferment at least part of saidsoluble carbohydrates to a fermentation product, such as ethanol,methane or butanol, thereby obtaining a fermentation broth.
 2. Thecomposition according to claim 1, wherein at least part of said ligninfraction is isolated from the fiber fraction obtained in step (b). 3.The composition according to claim 1, wherein at least part of saidlignin fraction is isolated from said fermentation broth obtained instep (c).
 4. The composition according to claim 1, wherein saidhydrothermal pretreatment of said lignocellulosic biomass is performedat a temperature of 150-260° C., such as 160-250° C., e.g. 150-200° C.5. The composition according to claim 1, wherein said hydrothermalpretreatment of said lignocellulosic biomass is performed in a period ofresidence time of 2-120 min., such as 5-110 min., e.g. 10-100 min., suchas 10-60 min., 10-45 min., 0-30 min., or 15-25 minutes.
 6. Thecomposition according to claim 1, wherein said hydrothermal pretreatmentof said lignocellulosic biomass results in a xylan number of: 5% ormore, 6% or more, 7% or more, 8% or more, 9% or more, 10% or more. 7.The composition according to claim 1, wherein said hydrolysis comprisesthe action of one or more cellulase(s) such as exo-glucanases,endo-glucanases, hemi-cellulases, and beta-glucosidases.
 8. (canceled)9. The composition according to any one of the claim 1, wherein saidhydrolysis is performed for a period of time of 1-200 hours, such as5-190 hours, such as 10-185 hours, e.g. 15-180 hours, for example 20-175hours, such as 25-170 hours, such as 30-165 hours, e.g. 35-160 hours,for example 40-155 hours, such as 45-150 hours, such as 50-145 hours,e.g. 55-140 hours, for example 60-135 hours, such as 65-130 hours, suchas 70-125 hours, e.g. 75-120 hours, for example 80-115 hours, such as85-110 hours, such as 90-105 hours, e.g. 95-100 hours.
 10. Thecomposition according to claim 1, wherein said step (b) and step (c) areperformed as a separate hydrolysis and fermentation step (SHF), andwherein said hydrolysis is performed at a temperature of 30-72° C., suchas 32-70° C., e.g. 34-68° C., for example 36-66° C., such as 38-64° C.,e.g. 40-62° C., 42-60° C., e.g. 44-58° C., for example 46-56° C., suchas 48-54° C., e.g. 50-52° C.
 11. (canceled)
 12. The compositionaccording to claim 1, wherein said step (b) and step (c) are performedas a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation step (SSF), andwherein said fermentation is performed at a temperature of 25-40° C.,such as 26-39° C., e.g. 27-38° C., for example 28-37° C., e.g. 29-36°C., for example 30-35° C., such as 31-34° C. or 32-33° C. and whereinsaid hydrolysis is performed at a temperature of 30-72° C., such as32-70° C., e.g. 34-68° C., for example 36-66° C., such as 38-64° C.,e.g. 40-62° C., 42-60° C., e.g. 44-58° C., for example 46-56° C., suchas 48-54° C., e.g. 50-52° C.
 13. The composition according to claim 1,wherein said hydrolysis is performed in a period of time of 1-12 hours,such as 2-11 hours, for example 3-10 hours, such as 4-9 hours, e.g. 5-8hours, such as 6-7 hours.
 14. (canceled)
 15. The composition accordingto claim 1, wherein said fermentation is performed in a period of timeof 100-200 hours, such as 105-190 hours, such as 110-185 hours, e.g.115-180 hours, for example 120-175 hours, such as 125-170 hours, such as130-165 hours, e.g. 135-160 hours, for example 140-155 hours, such as145-150 hours.
 16. The composition according to claim 1, wherein saidprocess comprises “C5 bypass”, i.e. comprising a solid/liquid separationstep before step (b), wherein the liquid fraction is not subjected tosaid hydrolysis in step (b).
 17. The composition according to claim 1,wherein said process is conducted as “whole slurry” process, i.e.wherein the pretreated biomass is subjected directly in a subsequenthydrolysis step, such as an enzymatic hydrolysis and/or fermentation.18. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the lignin is obtainedfrom soft lignocellulosic biomass, such as a biomass used or suitablefor 2^(nd) generation bioethanol production, digestate or waste.
 19. Thecomposition according to claim 18, wherein the lignin is obtained from aprocess comprising essentially no addition of acid or base duringpretreatment.
 20. A composition comprising bitumen, one or moreplasticity modifying agent(s), lignin, and optionally one or morefurther component(s); wherein said lignin has a Lignin Ion ExchangeCapacity (LIEC) of 0.4 mol/kg dry matter (DM) or less, such as 0.35mol/kg dry matter (DM) or less, such as 0.30 mol/kg DM or less, such as0.25 mol/kg DM or less, such as 0.20 mol/kg DM or less, or such as 0.15mol/kg DM or less, such as 0.05-0.40 mol/kg DM, preferably 0.05-0.30mol/kg DM, more preferred 0.05-0.20 mol/kg DM, or especially preferred0.05-0.15 mol/kg DM.
 21. (canceled)
 22. (canceled)
 23. The compositionaccording to claim 1, wherein said lignin has a phenolic OH (phOH)content of 2 mmol/g or less.
 24. The composition according to claim 1,wherein said lignin has a sulphur (S) content of 0.4% (w/w) or less. 25.The composition according to claim 1, wherein the bitumen is straightrun bitumen, hard bitumen, oxidised bitumen, cut-back bitumen or fluxedbitumen.
 26. The composition according to claim 1, said furthercomponent(s) being one or more aggregate(s) and/or filler(s), such asnatural, manufactured, recycled aggregates, including any combinationthereof
 27. The composition according to claim 1, wherein said one ormore plasticity modifying agent is one or more plastomer, one or morethermoplastic elastomer, one or more rubber, one or more viscositymodifier, and/or one or more reactive polymer, including any combinationthereof.
 28. The composition according to claim 1, wherein said one ormore plastomer is selected from one or more of: EVA, EMA, EBA, APP, PE,PP, PVC, and PS, including any combination thereof.
 29. The compositionaccording to claim 1, wherein said thermoplastic elastomers is one ormore of butadiene elastomer (SBE), linear or radialstyrene-butadiene-styrene elastomer (SBS), styrene-butadiene rubber(SBR), styrene-isoprene-styrene elastomer (SIS),styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene elastomer (SEBS),ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM), isobutene-isoprene randomcopolymer (MR), polyisobutene (PIB), polybutadiene (PBD), polyisoprene(PI) and any combination thereof.
 30. The composition according to claim1, wherein said rubber is a natural rubber, such as latex, or asynthetic rubber, such as recycled tire rubber or recycled crumb rubber.31. The composition according to claim 1, wherein said viscositymodifier is one or more flux oil (aromatics, napthenics, parrafinics),or Fischer-Tropsch waxes, including any combination thereof.
 32. Thecomposition according to claim 1, wherein said reactive polymer is oneor more random terpolymer of ethylene, acrylic ester and glycidylmethacrylate, or maleic anhydride-grafted styrene-butadiene-styrenecopolymer, including any combination thereof.
 33. The compositionaccording to claim 1, wherein said active component is selected from thegroup comprising or consisting of one or more dispersing agent(s),surfactant(s), hydrotropic agent(s), emulsifier(s), preserving agent(s),anti-foaming agent (s), viscosity modifier(s), reactive polymer(s) andany combination thereof.
 34. Use of a composition according to claim 1in one or more of: sealing work, road work, paving work, providing asurface layer, providing a sealing layer, providing a road and providinga pavement, providing a top layer of a road.
 35. A sealing layercomprising a composition according to claim
 1. 36. An asphaltcomposition comprising a composition according to claim
 1. 37. Theasphalt composition according to claim 34, said asphalt compositionbeing mastic asphalt or rolled asphalt.
 38. A process for obtaining abitumen composition, said process comprising: a. subjecting saidlignocellulosic biomass for hydrothermal pretreatment resulting in ahydrothermally pretreated lignocellulosic biomass; followed by b.subjecting at least part of said hydrothermally pretreatedlignocellulosic biomass obtained in step (a) to a hydrolysis resultingin a liquid fraction comprising soluble carbohydrates, and a fiberfraction comprising a lignin component, wherein said hydrolysis is anacid catalyzed hydrolysis and/or enzymatic hydrolysis; followed by c.optionally subjecting at least part of the liquid fraction obtained instep (b) to a fermentation in order to ferment at least part of saidsoluble carbohydrates to a fermentation product, such as ethanol,methane or butanol, thereby obtaining a fermentation broth; followed byd. optionally isolating at least part of said fermentation product fromthe fermentation broth obtained in step (c) e.g. by distillation; e.isolating at least part of the lignin from one or more of: the fiberfraction obtained in step (b); the fermentation broth obtained in step(c); or after isolation of at least a part of the fermentation productin step (d); f. converting at least part of the lignin componentobtained in step (e) to a bitumen composition by admixing said lignincomponent with bitumen and a plasticity modifying agent(s).
 39. Theprocess according to claim 38, wherein the bitumen composition obtainedin step f) is a composition comprising bitumen, one or more plasticitymodifying agent(s), lignin, and optionally one or more furthercomponent(s); wherein said lignin is obtained by a process for treatmentof a lignocellulosic biomass, said process comprising: a) subjectinglignocellulosic biomass to hydrothermal pretreatment resulting in ahydrothermally pretreated lignocellulosic biomass; followed by b)subjecting at least part of said hydrothermally pretreatedlignocellulosic biomass obtained in step (a) to a hydrolysis resultingin a liquid fraction comprising soluble carbohydrates, and a fiberfraction comprising a lignin component, wherein said hydrolysis is anacid catalyzed hydrolysis and/or enzymatic hydrolysis; followed by c)optionally subjecting at least part of the liquid fraction obtained instep (b) to a fermentation in order to ferment at least part of saidsoluble carbohydrates to a fermentation product, such as ethanol,methane or butanol, thereby obtaining a fermentation broth.